Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - ascribe

 transitive verb  (~d; ascribing)  Etymology: Middle English, from Latin ~re, from ad- + scribere to write — more at scribe  Date: 15th century to refer to a supposed cause, source, or author  • ascribable adjective Synonyms:  ~, attribute, assign, impute, credit mean to lay something to the account of a person or thing. ~ suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship forged paintings formerly ~d to masters. attribute suggests less tentativeness than ~, less definiteness than assign attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate. assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation assigned the bones to the Cretaceous Period. impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame tried to impute sinister motives to my actions. credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation credited his teammates for his success.