[ad. L. ascrīptiōn-em, n. of action f. ascrīb-ere to ASCRIBE: see -ION. Cf. also ADSCRIPTION.]
† 1. The action of adding in writing, subscription. Obs.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., Annot. All diminution is signified either … by a number set to the signe, or else by asscription of the Canon.
2. Enrolment, inclusion in a class. rare.
1851. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., I. 8. The ascription of the ancient Gaulish families into the Senatorial rank.
3. The action of setting to the credit of; attribution of origin or authorship.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., Pref. 4. Ascribing all his writing vnto Gods inward commanding … Which is indeed, a very true ascription.
1794. Paley, Evid., I. ix. § 5 (1817), 165. If the ascription of the Gospels to their respective authors had been conjectural.
1861. Maine, Anc. Law (1874), 1. The theoretical ascription of English law to immemorial unwritten tradition.
4. The action of ascribing, attributing, imputing, or declaring that something belongs to a person or thing; concr. the declaration thus made.
1600. Chapman, Iliad, XIV. Comm. Which ascription our Spond takes to be given in scorn.
1845–6. Trench, Huls. Lect., Ser. II. viii. 275. With thankful ascriptions of praise to … God.
1877. Huxley, Anat. Inv. Anim., xii. 661. The ascription of a spermatozoal nature to the striæ … is not warranted.
