Part 768

<hw>At*trib"u*ta*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being attributed; ascribable; imputable.</def>

<blockquote>Errors . . . <b>attributable</b> to carelessness. <i>J. D. Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Attribute</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At*trib"ute</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <wf>Attributed</wf>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <wf>Attributing</wf>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>attributus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>attribuere</ets>; <ets>ad</ets> + <ets>tribuere</ets> to bestow. See <wf>Tribute</wf>.]</ety> <def>To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (<i>to</i>); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (<i>to</i>).</def>

<blockquote>We <b>attribute</b> nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it. <i>Abp. Tillotson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The merit of service is seldom <b>attributed</b> to the true and exact performer. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- See <wf>Ascribe</wf>.</syn>

<h1>Attribute</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At"tri*bute</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>attributum</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . . It is an <b>attribute</b> to God himself. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Reputation.</def> <mark>[Poetic]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Paint. & Sculp.)</fld> <def>A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; <as>as, a club is the <ex>attribute</ex> of Hercules</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.</def>

<h1>Attribution</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At`tri*bu"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>attributio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>attribution</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of attributing or ascribing, as a quality, character, or function, to a thing or person, an effect to a cause.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is ascribed or attributed.</def>

<h1>Attributive</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At*trib"u*tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>attributif</ets>.]</ety> <def>Attributing; pertaining to, expressing, or assigning an attribute; of the nature of an attribute.</def>

<h1>Attributive</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At*trib"u*tive</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>, <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>A word that denotes an attribute; esp. a modifying word joined to a noun; an adjective or adjective phrase.</def>

<h1>Attributively</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At*trib"u*tive*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an attributive manner.</def>

<h1>Attrite</h1> <Xpage=100>

<hw>At*trite"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>attritus</ets>, <ets>p. p. of atterere</ets>; <ets>ad + terere</ets> to rub. See <wf>Trite</wf>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Rubbed; worn by friction.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Theol.)</fld> <def>Repentant from fear of punishment; having attrition of grief for sin; -- opposed to <i>contrite</i>.</def>

<h1>Attrition</h1> <Xpage=100>