attribute
Definitions
A quality or feature regarded as belonging to someone or something.
属性；特质；特征
To regard something as caused by, or belonging to, someone or something.
把……归因于；认为……出自(某人)
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedad- (to, onto) + tribuere (assign) = 'to assign onto.' To attribute is to assign a cause, origin, or quality onto something: you attribute a poem to a writer, or list patience as an attribute of a teacher. The noun is the quality you 'give' to a thing; the verb is the act of assigning it.
Root tribut still carries 6 more wordsWhy It Means This
One spelling, two stresses, two jobs. As a noun it's AT-tribute — a quality 'given to' a thing (a key attribute of the product). As a verb it's a-TTRIB-ute — to assign cause or authorship (attribute the quote to Einstein). The link is the root idea of 'assigning': you either name the quality a thing has been given, or you give the credit/blame to a source.
Usage Guide
- Stress shift: noun AT-tribute (a quality) vs verb a-TTRIB-ute (to assign). Saying the verb with first-syllable stress sounds wrong to native ears.
- Verb pattern: attribute X to Y — always with 'to'. Attribute the success to teamwork (not 'attribute on/for').
- Register: the verb is fairly formal — common in academic, scientific, and journalistic writing.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Patience is one of the most valuable attributes of a good leader.
- 2.
Scientists attribute the warming to rising carbon dioxide levels.
- 3.
She attributes her success to hard work and a bit of luck.
- 4.
The painting was long attributed to a lesser-known student of Rubens.
Easily Confused
attribute vs contribute — both share the tribut root but go opposite ways. attribute = assign a cause/quality to something (attribute the delay to traffic). contribute = give your share toward something (contribute money to a fund). Assigning blame/credit → attribute; giving input → contribute.
Synonym Comparison
- attribute (v.) — assign a cause or source, often tentatively (attributed to stress)
- ascribe — near-synonym, slightly more formal; often for qualities or texts (ascribe motives to someone)
- credit — attribute something positive to someone (credit her with the idea)
- blame — attribute something negative to someone