- 1
To regard as arising from a specified cause or source.transitive
- One may ascribe these problems to the federal government; however, at this stage it is unclear what caused them.
- 2
To attribute (a book, painting, or any other work of art or literature) to a writer or creator.transitive
- It is arguable as to whether we can truly ascribe this play to Shakespeare.
- 3
To believe in or agree with; to subscribe.nonstandard
- A survey of the literature reveals that many who have commented on the signaling of animals ascribe to the view that all of their communicative signals are manifestations of emotion or affect.
- If we take a holistic view of human beings, we ascribe to the idea that humans are multidimensional and that they are greater than the sum of their parts – for example, their physical, psychological and spiritual aspects.
syn. accredit · ascribe · attach · attribute · chalk up to · charge · draw · impute · lay · put down to · repose