v.
Pronunciation: ə - ' skr ī b
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: as · cribed ; as · crib · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin ascribere, from ad- + scribere to write ― more at SCRIBE
Date: 15th century
: to refer to a supposed cause, source, or author
– as · crib · able \ - ' skr ī -b ə -b ə l \ adjective
synonyms 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>.