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Word a Day

ascribe

verb · /əˈskɹaɪb/ · Level 3 · Advanced

What does ascribe mean?

ascribe (verb): to regard as arising from a specified cause or source.

Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How do you pronounce ascribe?

/əˈskɹaɪb/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.

Where does ascribe come from?

From Middle English ascriben, from Old French ascrivre (“inscribe, attribute, impute”), from Latin āscrībere (“to state in writing”), equivalent to a- + scribe.

Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Test yourself: do you know “ascribe”?

Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.

What does “ascribe” mean?

to strengthen, especially by addition or augmentation

Not quite: that's what reinforce means.

to understand or grasp fully and thoroughly; to plumb

Not quite: that's what comprehend means.

to regard as arising from a specified cause or source

Right! That's what “ascribe” means.

to speak in order for someone to write down the words

Not quite: that's what dictate means.

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