attribute

Attribute is defined as a quality or characteristic of a person, place or thing.

(noun)

Intelligence, charm and a sense of humor are each an example of an attribute.

The definition of attribute is to explain something by telling the cause or origin.

(verb)

An example of attribute is to explain a person's constant coughing as a result of chain smoking.

See attribute in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to set down or think of as belonging to, produced by, resulting from, or originating in; assign or ascribe (to): the play is attributed to Shakespeare
to ascribe as a quality or characteristic

Origin: < L attributus, pp. of attribuere, to assign < ad-, to + tribuere, to assign < tribus: see tribe

noun

a characteristic or quality of a person or thing
an object used in literature or art as a symbol for a person, office, etc.: winged feet are the attribute of Mercury
Gram. a word or phrase used adjectivally

Related Forms:

See attribute in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb at·trib·ut·ed, at·trib·ut·ing, at·trib·utes

To relate to a particular cause or source; ascribe: attributed their failure to a lack of preparation.
To regard as the work of a specified agent, place, or time: attributed the painting to Titian; attributed the vase to 18th-century Japan.

noun at·tri·bute (ătˈrə-byo͞otˌ)

A quality or characteristic inherent in or ascribed to someone or something.
An object associated with and serving to identify a character, personage, or office: Lightning bolts are an attribute of Zeus.
Grammar A word or phrase syntactically subordinate to another word or phrase that it modifies; for example, my sister's and brown in my sister's brown dog.

Origin:

Origin: Latin attribuere, attribūt-

Origin: : ad-, ad-

Origin: + tribuere, to allot; see tribute

Related Forms: