verb , noun
■ verb / əˈtrɪbjuːt; NAmE / [ vn ]
1.
attribute sth to sth to say or believe that sth is the result of a particular thing :
She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck.
2.
attribute sth (to sb) to say or believe that sb is responsible for doing sth, especially for saying, writing or painting sth :
The committee refused to attribute blame without further information.
This play is usually attributed to Shakespeare.
► at·tri·bu·tion / ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
The attribution of this painting to Rembrandt has never been questioned.
■ noun
/ ˈætrɪbjuːt/ a quality or feature of sb/sth :
Patience is one of the most important attributes in a teacher.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: the noun from Old French attribut ; the verb from Latin attribut- allotted: both from the verb attribuere , from ad- to + tribuere assign.