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Webster 1913 Edition

Attribute

At-trib′ute

(ăt′trĭ-būt)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Attributed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Attributing
.]
[L.
attributus
, p. p. of
attribuere
;
ad
+
tribuere
to bestow. See
Tribute
.]
To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to).
We
attribute
nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it.
Abp. Tillotson.
The merit of service is seldom
attributed
to the true and exact performer.
Shakespeare
Syn. – See
Ascribe
.

At′tri-bute

,
Noun.
[L.
attributum
.]
1.
That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic.
But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .
It is an
attribute
to God himself.
Shakespeare
2.
Reputation.
[Poetic]
Shakespeare
3.
(Paint. & Sculp.)
A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure;
as, a club is the
attribute
of Hercules
.
4.
(Gram.)
Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.

Webster 1828 Edition

Attribute

ATTRIB'UTE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. attribuo; ad and tribuo, to divide, to bestow, to assign; tribus, a tribe, division or ward. See Tribe.]
1.
To allot or attach, in contemplation; to ascribe; to consider as belonging.
We attribute nothing to God, that contains a contradiction.
2.
To give as due; to yield as an act of the mind; as, to attribute to God all the glory of redemption.
3.
To impute, as to a cause; as, our misfortunes are generally to be attributed to our follies or imprudence.

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