verb

ascribe

to attribute, to assign, to impute

He ascribed his failure to bad luck.

He ascribed his failure to bad luck.

This quote is often ascribed to Churchill.

This quote is often ascribed to Churchill.

((sth.)) ((to sth./sb.)) to attribute (sth.) to (sth./sb.) He ascribed his failure to bad luck.

Synonyms: attribute, assign, credit, impute

From Latin 'ad-' (to) + 'scribere' (to write). Literally 'to write to'.

Think of 'writing' a cause or quality 'to' someone or something. You 'ascribe' the cause 'to' the event.

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