ascribe

Pronunciation

• (UK) (US) IPA ^(key): /əˈskraɪb/

• Audio (AU)

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Verb

Plain form ascribe

Third-person singular ascribes

Past tense ascribed

Past participle ascribed

Present participle ascribing

1. (transitive) To attribute a cause or characteristic to someone or something.

   We may ascribe the failure to the leader, but it is also explained by bad luck.

2. (transitive) To attribute a book, painting or any work of art or literature to a specific writer or painter or creator.

   It is arguable as to whether we can truly ascribe this play to Shakespeare.

Synonyms

• attribute
• impute

Related words

• ascribable
• ascription
• ascriptive