ascribing
Assigning a source
Ascribing is attributing something to a cause, source, or person: He kept ascribing motives to her that she didn't have.
You might ascribe a painting to a particular artist, or ascribe your success to hard work.
The word implies judgment or interpretation—the connection isn't always obvious or certain.
Quality assigned to something
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- traitDistinguishing personal quality
- qualityStandard or attribute
- featureDistinguishing quality or element
property · assign · impute · credit · designate · allocate · confer · bestow
Recognition or payment deferral
- attributionAssigning origin or cause
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- originStarting point or source
- sourcePoint of origin
provenance · citation · quotation · reference · acknowledgment · crediting · citing · sourcing
Imperfection or blame
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- responsibilityState of being answerable
scapegoating · condemnation · reproach · censure · liability · incrimination · finger-pointing · imputation
What produces an effect
- reasonBasis or justification
- sourcePoint of origin
- originStarting point or source
- explanationStatement making something clear
rationale · justification · motive · factor · determinant · agency · influence · basis
attribute
Quality assigned to something
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- traitDistinguishing personal quality
- qualityStandard or attribute
feature · property · assign · impute · credit · designate · allocate · confer · bestow · attach
credit
Recognition or payment deferral
- attributionAssigning origin or cause
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- originStarting point or source
source · provenance · citation · quotation · reference · acknowledgment · crediting · citing · sourcing · misattribution
fault
Imperfection or blame
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
responsibility · scapegoating · condemnation · reproach · censure · liability · incrimination · finger-pointing · imputation · allegation
cause
What produces an effect
explanation · rationale · justification · motive · factor · determinant · agency · influence · basis · grounds
- assigningassigning, allocating, appointing, attributing, crediting
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
ascribingdenying
Refusing to acknowledge
disavowing · disclaiming · rejecting · dissociating · disowning
ascribingdissociating
Mentally separating from awareness
detaching · disassociating · separating · divorcing · distancing