At*trib"ute (ăt"tr&ibreve;*būt), v.
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.
Shak.
Syn. -- See Ascribe.
At"tri*bute (&?;), n. [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.
Shak.
2. Reputation. [Poetic]
Shak.
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.
