ascribe
Assign a source
To ascribe something is to attribute it to a cause or source: She ascribed her success to hard work, Critics ascribed the painting to Vermeer.
The word implies judgment or interpretation—you're assigning credit, blame, or origin based on your assessment.
Ascribe often appears with qualities or characteristics: They ascribed magical powers to the stone.
Quality assigned to something
- creditRecognition or payment deferral
- assignGive as responsibility
- imputeAssign to a cause
- accreditFormally recognize as qualified
refer · attach · connect · associate · link · designate · allocate · bestow
Point of origin
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- derivationSource or origin tracing
- authorshipOrigin of written work
- genesisPoint of creation
roots · ancestry · heritage · etymology · attribution · paternity · creation · origination
Imperfection or blame
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
imputation · censure · reproach · criticism · condemnation · scapegoat · finger-pointing · liability
What produces an effect
- reasonBasis or justification
- factorContributor to result
- sourcePoint of origin
- explanationStatement making something clear
rationale · motivation · grounds · basis · determinant · trigger · stimulus · antecedent
attribute
Quality assigned to something
accredit · refer · attach · connect · associate · link · designate · allocate · bestow · confer
source
Point of origin
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- derivationSource or origin tracing
- authorshipOrigin of written work
genesis · roots · ancestry · heritage · etymology · attribution · paternity · creation · origination · fountainhead
fault
Imperfection or blame
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
culpability · imputation · censure · reproach · criticism · condemnation · scapegoat · finger-pointing · liability · incrimination
cause
What produces an effect
explanation · rationale · motivation · grounds · basis · determinant · trigger · stimulus · antecedent · precipitant
ascribedissociate
Sever a mental link
deny · disclaim · disavow · disassociate · disconnect