to attribute or ascribe: The children imputed magical powers to the old woman.
2.
to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person.
3.
Law. to ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.
4.
Theology. to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another.
5.
Obsolete. to charge (a person) with fault.
[Origin: 1325–75; ME imputen < L imputāre, equiv. to im-im-1+ putāre to assess, reckon, think; see putative]
To relate to a particular cause or source; attribute the fault or responsibility to: imputed the rocket failure to a faulty gasket; kindly imputed my clumsiness to inexperience.
To assign as a characteristic; credit: the gracefulness so often imputed to cats. See Synonyms at attribute.
[Middle English imputen, from Old French emputer, from Latin imputāre : in-, in; see in-2 + putāre, to settle an account; see pau-2 in Indo-European roots.]
Main Entry: im·pute Pronunciation: im-'pyüt Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: im·put·ed; im·put·ing 1: to consider or calculate as a value or cost (as for taxation); broadly: to reckon as an actual thing <impute a benefit from the use of the car> 2in the civil law of Louisiana: to direct (payment) to principal or interest 3: to attribute to a party esp. because of responsibility for another
<impute knowledge to his corporate superior> —im·pu·ta·tion/"im-py&-'tA-sh&n/noun
As*cribe"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.] [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.]1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author. The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. --Addison. 2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong. Syn: To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Usage: Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view. More than good-will to me attribute naught. --Spenser. Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. --Pope. And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. --Spenser.
Im*pute"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Imputing.] [F. imputer, L. imputare to bring into the reckoning, charge, impute; pref. im- in + putare to reckon, think. See Putative.]1. To charge; to ascribe; to attribute; to set to the account of; to charge to one as the author, responsible originator, or possessor; -- generally in a bad sense. Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault, If memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise. --Gray. One vice of a darker shade was imputed to him -- envy. --Macaulay. 2. (Theol.) To adjudge as one's own (the sin or righteousness) of another; as, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. It was imputed to him for righteousness. --Rom. iv. 22. They merit Imputed shall absolve them who renounce Their own, both righteous and unrighteous deeds. --Milton. 3. To take account of; to consider; to regard. [R.] If we impute this last humiliation as the cause of his death. --Gibbon. Syn: To ascribe; attribute; charge; reckon; consider; imply; insinuate; refer. See Ascribe.
Pu"ta*tive\, a. [L. putativus, fr. putare, putatum, to reckon, suppose, adjust, prune, cleanse. See Pure, and cf. Amputate, Compute, Dispute, Impute.] Commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed; as, the putative father of a child. "His other putative (I dare not say feigned) friends." --E. Hall. Thus things indifferent, being esteemed useful or pious, became customary, and then came for reverence into a putative and usurped authority. --Jer. Taylor.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [im-pyoot] Pronunciation Key 
