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. attributable adj. attribution n.
[ ME f. L attribuere attribut- (as AD-, tribuere assign): (n.) f. OF attribut or L attributum ]