Word Study
contribute
CIDE DICTIONARY
contribute, v. t. [L. contributus, p. p. of contribuere to bring together, to add; con- + tribuere to grant, impart. See Tribute.].
To give or grant i common with others; to give to a common stock or for a common purpose; to furnish or suply in part; to give (money or other aid) for a specified object; as, to contribute food or fuel for the poor. [1913 Webster]
"England contributes much more than any other of the allies." [1913 Webster]
contribute, v. i.
- To give a part to a common stock; to lend assistance or aid, or give something, to a common purpose; to have a share in any act or effect. [1913 Webster]"We are engaged in war; the secretary of state calls upon the colonies to contribute." [1913 Webster]
- To give or use one's power or influence for any object; to assist. [1913 Webster]"These men also contributed to obstruct the progress of wisdom." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
contribute, disp. v. (often foll. by to)
1 tr. give (money, an idea, help, etc.) towards a common purpose (contributed {pound}5 to the fund).
2 intr. help to bring about a result etc. (contributed to their downfall).
3 tr. (also absol.) supply (an article etc.) for publication with others in a journal etc.
1 tr. give (money, an idea, help, etc.) towards a common purpose (contributed {pound}5 to the fund).
2 intr. help to bring about a result etc. (contributed to their downfall).
3 tr. (also absol.) supply (an article etc.) for publication with others in a journal etc.
Derivative
contributive adj.
Etymology
L contribuere contribut- (as COM-, tribuere bestow)
THESAURUS
contribute
accommodate, add to, advance, afford, aid, assist, augment, be enfranchised, be implicated in, bear a hand, bend to, bestow, bias, chip in, clothe, come through, compare, conduce, contribute to, dispose, donate, donate to, endow, enter into, fill, fill up, find, fortify, forward, fund, furnish, gift, gift with, give, give to, go, go into, grant, have a tendency, have suffrage, head, help, help decide, incline, invest, join, join in, keep, kick in, lead, lean, look to, maintain, make available, make provision for, make the scene, partake, partake of, participate, participate in, pitch in, pledge, point, point to, prepare, present, promote, provide, provide for, pull an oar, recruit, redound to, reinforce, replenish, serve, set, set toward, show a tendency, sit in, sit in on, stock, store, strengthen, subscribe, subsidize, supplement, supply, support, sweeten the kitty, take part in, tend, trend, turn, verge, vote, warp, work toward, yieldROGET THESAURUS
contribute
Aid
VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.Giving
VB deliver, hand, pass, put into the hands of, hand over, make over, deliver over, pass over, turn over, assign dower, present, give away, dispense, dispose of, give out, deal out, dole out, mete out, fork out, squeeze out, pay, render, impart, communicate, concede, cede, yield, part with, shed, cast, spend, give, bestow, confer, grant, accord, award, assign, intrust, consign, vest in, make a present, allow, contribute, subscribe, furnish its quota, invest, endow, settle upon, bequeath, leave, devise, furnish, supply, help, administer to, afford, spare, accommodate with, indulge with, favor with, shower down upon, lavish, pour on, thrust upon, tip, bribe, tickle the palm, grease the palm, offer, sacrifice, immolate.Cause
VB be the cause of, originate, give origin to, give rise, to, give occasion to, cause, occasion, sow the seeds of, kindle, suscitate, bring on, bring to bring pass, bring about, produce, create, set up, set afloat, set on foot, found, broach, institute, lay the foundation of, lie at the root of, procure, induce, draw down, open the door to, superinduce, evoke, entail, operate, elicit, provoke, conduce to, contribute, have a hand in the pie, have a finger in the pie, determine, decide, turn the scale, have a common origin, derive its origin.Tendency
VB tend, contribute, conduce, lead, dispose, incline, verge, bend to, trend, affect, carry, redound to, bid fair to, gravitate towards, promote.Concurrence
VB concur, conduce, conspire, contribute, agree, unite, hang together, pull together, join forces, make common cause, help to, keep pace with, run parallel, go with, go along with, go hand in hand with, coincide.For further exploring for "contribute" in Webster Dictionary Online