attribute

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: at=trib=ute

CIDE DICTIONARY

attribute, v. t. [L. attributus, p. p. of attribuere; ad + tribuere to bestow. See Tribute.].

 To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to).  [1913 Webster]
"We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it."  [1913 Webster]
"The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- See Ascribe.

attribute, n. [L. attributum.].

•  That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic.  [1913 Webster]

  "But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .
  It is an attribute to God himself."  [1913 Webster]
•  Reputation.  [1913 Webster]
•  A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules.  [1913 Webster]
•  Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

attribute, v. & n.
--v.tr. (usu. foll. by to)
1 regard as belonging or appropriate to (a poem attributed to Shakespeare).
2 ascribe to; regard as the effect of a stated cause (the delays were attributed to the heavy traffic).
--n.
1 a a quality ascribed to a person or thing. b a characteristic quality.
2 a material object recognized as appropriate to a person, office, or status (a large car is an attribute of seniority).
3 Gram. an attributive adjective or noun.

Derivative

attributable adj. attribution n.

Etymology

ME f. L attribuere attribut- (as AD-, tribuere assign): (n.) f. OF attribut or L attributum

THESAURUS

attribute

IC analysis, account for, accredit, accredit with, accrete to, acknowledge, affection, apply, apply to, appositive, aroma, ascribe, ascribe to, assign, assign to, attach, attach to, attribute to, attributive, badge, blame, blame for, blame on, brand, bring home to, cachet, calendar, cast, character, characteristic, charge, charge on, charge to, chronologize, complement, confess, configuration, connect with, construction modifier, credit, credit with, cut, cutting, date, deep structure, differentia, differential, direct object, distinctive feature, earmark, emblem, fasten upon, father upon, feature, figure, filler, fix on, fix upon, flavor, form-function unit, function, give, gust, hallmark, hang on, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, immediate constituent analysis, impress, impression, impute, impute to, index, indirect object, individualism, keynote, lay, lay to, levels, lineaments, mannerism, mark, marking, modifier, mold, nature, object, odor, particularity, peculiarity, phrase structure, pin on, pinpoint, place, place upon, point to, predicate, property, put, qualifier, quality, quirk, ranks, refer, refer to, saddle on, saddle with, savor, seal, set down to, settle upon, shallow structure, shape, singularity, slot, slot and filler, smack, specialty, stamp, strata, structure, subject, surface structure, syntactic analysis, syntactic structure, syntactics, syntax, tagmeme, taint, tang, taste, token, trace to, trait, trick, underlying structure, virtue, word arrangement, word order

ROGET THESAURUS

attribute

Accompaniment

N accompaniment, adjunct, context, appendage, appurtenance, coexistence, concomitance, company, association, companionship, partnership, copartnership, coefficiency, concomitant, accessory, coefficient, companion, buddy, attendant, fellow, associate, friend, colleague, consort, spouse, mate, partner, co-partner, satellite, hanger on, fellow-traveller, shadow, escort, cortege, attribute, accompanying, concomitant, fellow, twin, joint, associated with, coupled with, accessory, attendant, obbligato, with, withal, together with, along with, in company with, hand in hand, side by side, cheek by jowl, cheek by jole, arm in arm, therewith, herewith, and, together, in a body, collectively, noscitur a sociis, virtutis fortuna comes.

Power

N power, potency, potentiality, jiva, puissance, might, force, energy, dint, right hand, right arm, ascendency, sway, control, prepotency, prepollence, almightiness, omnipotence, authority, strength, ability, ableness, competency, efficacy, efficiency, productivity, expertise (skill), validity, cogency, enablement, vantage ground, influence, pressure, conductivity, elasticity, gravity, electricity, magnetism, galvanism, voltaic electricity, voltaism, electromagnetism, atomic power, nuclear power, thermonuclear power, fuel cell, hydraulic power, water power, hydroelectric power, solar power, solar energy, solar panels, tidal power, wind power, attraction, vis inertiae, vis mortua, vis viva, potential energy, dynamic energy, dynamic friction, dynamic suction, live circuit, live rail, live wire, capability, capacity, quid valeant humeri quid ferre recusent, faculty, quality, attribute, endowment, virtue, gift, property, qualification, susceptibility, powerful, puissant, potential, capable, able, equal to, up to, cogent, valid, efficient, productive, effective, effectual, efficacious, adequate, competent, multipotent, plenipotent, omnipotent, almighty, forcible, (energetic), influential, productive, powerfully, by virtue of, by dint of, a toute force, dos moi pou sto kai kino ten gen, eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis, fortis cadere cedere non potest.