ascribe
uh-SKRYB
/əˈskraɪb/
To attribute something to a cause, person, or period.
Often used when there is some uncertainty or when making a logical connection between an effect and a cause.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'ascribere', meaning 'to add to a writing' or 'to enroll'. It evolved to mean 'writing' a cause next to an effect.
Word relationships
- attribute: Attribute is the most common synonym; ascribe is slightly more formal and often used in academic writing.
- assign: Assign implies a more deliberate placement, while ascribe is about identifying an origin.
- deny: To deny is to refuse to acknowledge a connection; to ascribe is to create one.
Commonly confused with
- describe: Describe is to detail what something is; ascribe is to say where it came from.
Word family
- ascribable (adjective): capable of being ascribed.
Collocations
- ascribe to a cause
- ascribe meaning
- ascribe value
Example sentences
- "Historians often ascribe this unsigned painting to a student of Rembrandt." Art History
- "It is common to ascribe our own failings to bad luck while ascribing others' failings to character." Psychology
Memory hook
Ascribe = A-Source. You are pointing to the source. Write it to its source.
When not to use
Don't use 'ascribe' when the connection is a physical fact (e.g., 'The rain caused the flood'); use it for interpretations or origins.
Fun facts
- In the 16th century, 'ascribe' was often used in religious contexts to give glory or credit to God.
Explore more words
attribution, circumstantial, subsequent, causality, implicate, causation
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