attribute
UK: əˈtrɪbjuːt | US: əˈtrɪbjuːt
n. a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic of someone or something
vt. to regard something as being caused by or belonging to someone/something
The word "attribute" originates from Latin attribuere, combining ad- (toward) and tribuere (to assign). It initially referred to the act of assigning qualities or possessions to someone or something. Over time, it evolved to denote both the action of ascribing (verb) and the inherent characteristics themselves (noun). The logic reflects a directional transfer—literally "assigning toward" a subject.
Patience is often considered a key attribute of successful teachers.
The painting was wrongly attributed to a lesser-known artist.
Scientists attribute the climate changes to human activity.
Her leadership attributes include decisiveness and empathy.
The software allows users to attribute specific tasks to team members.