ascribe
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.as·cribe
transitive verb \ə-ˈskrīb\as·cribedas·crib·ing
Definition of ASCRIBE
: to refer to a supposed cause, source, or author
— as·crib·able \-ˈskrī-bə-bəl\ adjective
Examples of ASCRIBE
- <ascribed their stunning military victory to good intelligence beforehand>
Origin of ASCRIBE
Middle English, from Latin ascribere, from ad- + scribere to write — more at scribe
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of ASCRIBE
ascribe, attribute, assign, impute, credit mean to lay something to the account of a person or thing. ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship <forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters>. attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe , less definiteness than assign <attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate>. assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation <assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period>. impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame <tried to impute sinister motives to my actions>. credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation <credited his teammates for his success>.
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