As-cribe′, v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ASCRIBED; p. pr. & vb. n. ASCRIBING.] [Lat. ascribere, to ascribe, from ad and scribere, to write. Cf. ADSCRIPT.] 1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause. Three different motions ... Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe. Milton. 2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong; as, to ascribe perfection to God. Syn. — TO ASCRIBE, ATTRIBUTE, IMPUTE. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, and its chief peculiarity seems to lie in the image which it involves. It comes from ad and scribere, to write or put on paper. It is, therefore, the stronger word, and emphasizes the thought more fully. Hence it is now the word more commonly used. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view. More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser. Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope. And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.