Ascribe

/əˈskraɪb/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To attribute or assign something to a particular cause, source, or origin.
The critics ascribe the film's success to its innovative storytelling.
To regard a quality as belonging to someone or something.
She ascribes great importance to education in her life.
To assign a characteristic or value to a particular person or thing.
Historians often ascribe the invention of the telephone to Alexander Graham Bell.
To attribute an action or statement to a particular person.
The quote is often ascribed to Albert Einstein.

Etymology

Late Middle English: from Latin ascribere, from ad- 'to' + scribere 'to write'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

ascribe to
To attribute something to a particular cause or source.
ascribed to
Regarded as belonging to or attributed to someone or something.
ascribing motives
Attributing reasons or intentions to someone's actions.

Related Words

attribute
To regard something as being caused by someone or something.
impute
To attribute or ascribe a fault or misconduct to someone.
assign
To allocate someone or something to a designated place.

Slang Meanings

Give credit to
You can totally ascribe that brilliant idea to him!
Blame on
They ascribed the chaos to his poor planning.