Definition of 'ascribe'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense ascribes
, present participle ascribing
, past tense, past participle ascribed
1. verb
2. verb
[formal]
3. verb
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
ascribe in British English
verb (transitive)
▶ USAGE Ascribe is sometimes wrongly used where subscribe is meant: I do not subscribe (not ascribe) to this view1.
to ascribe parts of a play to Shakespeare
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
ascribable (asˈcribable) adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin ascrībere to enrol, from ad in addition + scrībere to write
Word Frequency
ascribe in American English
verb transitiveWord forms: asˈcribed or asˈcribing
SYNONYMY NOTE: ascribe, in this comparison, implies assignment to someone of something that may reasonably
be deduced [to ascribe a motive to someone]; attribute implies assignment of a quality, factor, or responsibility that may reasonably be
regarded as applying [to attribute an error to carelessness]; impute usually implies the assignment of something unfavorable or accusatory [to impute evil to someone]; assign implies the placement of something in a particular category because of some quality,
etc. attributed to it [to assign a poem to the 17th century]; credit implies belief in the possession by someone of some quality, etc. [to credit someone with intelligence]; attach implies the connection of something with something else as being appropriate to it
[different people attach different meanings to words]Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
ascribable (asˈcribable)
adjective
Word origin
ME ascriben (also ascriven < OFr ascriv-, stem of ascrire) < L ascribere < ad-, to + scribere, to write: see scribeWord Frequency
ascribe in American English
(əˈskraib)
transitive verbWord forms: -cribed, -cribing
SYNONYMS 1. See attribute.1.
to credit or assign, as to a cause or source; attribute; impute
The alphabet is usually ascribed to the Phoenicians
2.
to attribute or think of as belonging, as a quality or characteristic
They ascribed courage to me for something I did out of sheer panic
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
ascribable adjective
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME ‹ L ascrībere, equiv. to a- a-5 + scrībere to scribe2; r. ME ascrive ‹ MF. See shrive]Examples of 'ascribe' in a sentence
ascribe
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
ascribe
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
ascribe
British English: ascribe
VERB /əˈskraɪb/
If you ascribe an event or condition to a particular cause, you say or consider that it was caused by that thing.
I can only ascribe his jealousy to insecurity.
- American English: ascribe /əsˈkraɪb/
- Brazilian Portuguese: atribuir
- Chinese: 将…归因于
- European Spanish: atribuir
- French: attribuer
- German: zuschreiben
- Italian: attribuire
- Japanese: ~のせいと見なす
- Korean: ~의 탓으로 돌리다
- European Portuguese: atribuir
- Latin American Spanish: atribuir
Browse alphabetically
ascribe
Source
Definition of ascribe from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
TRANSPORT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
tandem
tricycle
car
airship
Your score:
Word of the day
apiary
a place where bees are kept, usually in beehives
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
HOUSEHOLD
Drag the correct answer into the box.
dining table
coffee table
dressing table
clothes horse
HOUSEHOLD
Drag the correct answer into the box.
bin
mop
bookcase
table
Your score:
Learning English: Months of the year
Learn how to speak about the months of the year, and give information about important dates. Improve your English with Collins.
Read more
Learning English: Days of the week
Learn how to discuss what happens on different days of the week, whether you want to make plans for the day or talk about weekly routines.
Read more
Learning English: Going shopping
Discover some useful English expressions to use while you're out at the shops in this week's Learning English blog.
Read more
Sting-Nettle Day
We're taking a closer look at the intriguing expressions and customs that have grown up around one of the most versatile plants out there - the stinging nettle.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more