1. That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or
thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic.
But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .
It is an attribute to God himself.
Shak.
2. Reputation. [Poetic] Shak.
3. (Paint. & Sculp.) A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as,
a club is the attribute of Hercules.
4. (Gram.) Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.
Attribution
(At`tri*bu"tion) n. [L. attributio: cf. F. attribution.]
1. The act of attributing or ascribing, as a quality, character, or function, to a thing or person, an effect
to a cause.
2. That which is ascribed or attributed.
Attributive
(At*trib"u*tive) a. [Cf. F. attributif.] Attributing; pertaining to, expressing, or assigning an
attribute; of the nature of an attribute.
Attributive
(At*trib"u*tive), n., (Gram.) A word that denotes an attribute; esp. a modifying word joined to
a noun; an adjective or adjective phrase.
Attributively
(At*trib"u*tive*ly), adv. In an attributive manner.
Attrite
(At*trite") a. [L. attritus, p. p. of atterere; ad + terere to rub. See Trite.]
1. Rubbed; worn by friction. Milton.
2. (Theol.) Repentant from fear of punishment; having attrition of grief for sin; — opposed to contrite.
Attrition
(At*tri"tion) n. [L. attritio: cf. F. attrition.]
1. The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion.
Effected by attrition of the inward stomach.
Arbuthnot.
2. The state of being worn. Johnson.
3. (Theol.) Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings of shame. See Contrition.
Wallis.
Attry
(At"try) a. [See Atter.] Poisonous; malignant; malicious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Attune
(At*tune") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attuned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Attuning.] [Pref. ad- + tune.]
1. To tune or put in tune; to make melodious; to adjust, as one sound or musical instrument to another; as,
to attune the voice to a harp.
2. To arrange fitly; to make accordant.
Wake to energy each social aim,
Attuned spontaneous to the will of Jove.
Beattie.
Atwain
(A*twain") adv. [OE. atwaine, atwinne; pref. a- + twain.] In twain; asunder. [Obs. or Poetic]
"Cuts atwain the knots." Tennyson.
