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to regard as resulting from a specified cause; consider as caused by something indicated (usually followed by to):
she attributed his bad temper to ill health.
to consider as a quality or characteristic of the person, thing, group, etc., indicated:
he attributed intelligence to his colleagues.
to consider as made by the one indicated, especially with strong evidence but in the absence of conclusive proof:
to attribute a painting to an artist.
to regard as produced by or originating in the time, period, place, etc., indicated; credit; -ssign:
to attribute a work to a particular period; to attribute a discovery to a particular country.
something attributed as belonging to a person, thing, group, etc.; a quality, character, characteristic, or property:
sensitivity is one of his attributes.
something used as a symbol of a particular person, office, or status:
a scepter is one of the attributes of a king.
grammar. a word or phrase that is syntactically subordinate to another and serves to limit, identify, particularize, describe, or supplement the meaning of the form with which it is in construction. in the red house, red is an attribute of house.
fine arts. an object -ssociated with or symbolic of a character, office, or quality, as the keys of st. peter or the lion skin of hercules.
philosophy. (in the philosophy of spinoza) any of the essential qualifications of g-d, thought and extension being the only ones known.
compare 1 (def 4b).
logic. (in a proposition) that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject.
obsolete. distinguished character; reputation.
contemporary examples

this and other excellent results are attributable to several changes in the political structure of policing.
prosecuting officer wilson won’t bring justice to ferguson candace mccoy august 22, 2014

part of that is attributable to differences in life choices and family circ-mstances, but not all.
wisconsin’s repeal of equal pay rights adds to battles for women mich-lle goldberg april 6, 2012

most—though far for all—accidents are not attributable to the airport in question.
airports from h-ll the daily beast november 21, 2009

m.h.m. vlak, et al. “trigger factors and their attributable risk for rupture of intracranial aneurysms.”
can coffee save your life? anneli rufus october 27, 2011

and this appears to be attributable, at least in part, to the fact that mortenson had secrets he wanted to protect.
is it time to forgive greg mortenson? jon krakauer april 7, 2013

historical examples

one kind of gag is attributable to failure of memory or deficiency of study on the part of the player.
a book of the play dutton cook

this was, of course, attributable to the difference in their food and drink.
the story of a cannoneer under stonewall jackson edward a. moore

his success perhaps is attributable to a single event that stemmed from youthful brashness and vigorous outspokenness.
the cultural history of marlborough, virginia c. malcolm watkins

the reason to which these blessings are attributable, is consideration for the elect.
commentary on genesis, vol. ii martin luther

this is attributable to the canadian traders, who established this post to secure their trade.
travels through north america, v. 1-2 berhard saxe-weimar eisenach

verb (əˈtrɪbjuːt)
(transitive) usually foll by to. to regard as belonging (to), produced (by), or resulting (from); ascribe (to): to attribute a painting to pic-sso
noun (ˈætrɪˌbjuːt)
a property, quality, or feature belonging to or representative of a person or thing
an object accepted as belonging to a particular office or position
(grammar)

an adjective or adjectival phrase
an attributive adjective

(logic) the property, quality, or feature that is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition
adj.

1660s, from attribute (v.) + -able.
v.

late 14c., “-ssign, bestow,” from latin attributus, past participle of attribuere “-ssign to, add, bestow;” figuratively “to attribute, ascribe, impute,” from ad- “to” + tribuere “-ssign, give, bestow” (see tribute). related: attributed; attributing.
n.

“quality ascribed to someone,” late 14c., from latin attributum “anything attributed,” noun use of neuter of attributus (see attribute (v.)). distinguished from the verb by pr-nunciation.