I. ə.ˈtribyəd.iv, -yətiv adjective
Etymology: French attributif, from Middle French, from attribution, after such pairs as Middle French distribution: distributif distributive
1. : attributing : relating to or of the nature of an attribute : expressing or assigning an attribute: as
a. of an adjective or adjective equivalent : joined directly to a modified noun without a copulative verb and in English usually preceding the noun (as of red in red hair, city in city streets, militant in the church militant ) but in some other languages (as French) typically following it (as moderne in un roman moderne “a modern novel”) — compare adherent 4, appositive 2, predicate 2
b. : of or belonging to an attributive adjective or adjective equivalent
attributive position
attributive function
: including an attributive adjective or adjective equivalent
an attributive collocation
2. : adjectival — used of a term
redness is abstract but red is attributive
3. : of an attributed or assigned nature or origin — used of the authorship of a work of art
• at·trib·u·tive·ly -ə̇vlē, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: an attributive word ; especially : adjective , adjective equivalent