An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. General: Something attributed as belonging to a person, thing, or group; a quality, characteristic, or property.
   

2. Computer science: A characteristic that describes an → entity.
   

3. To explain as resulting from a specified cause; to regard as caused by something indicated.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from L. attributus, p.p. of attribuere “to assign to, add, bestow;” figuratively “to attribute, ascribe, impute,” from → ad- “to” + tribuere “to pay, assign, give, bestow,” → distribute.

Etymology (PE): Âbâž, âbâžé, from â- strength or nuance prefix + bâž “tribute, toll, impost,” → distribute.