[prob., in the main, a subst. use of ATTRIBUTE ppl. a., though the L. attribūtum (neuter sb. from the pa. pple. attribūtus), common in theological language, or its F. adaptation attribut (14th c. in Littré), may well have been the prototype.]
1. A quality or character ascribed to any person or thing, one which is in common estimation or usage assigned to him; hence, sometimes, an epithet or appellation in which the quality is ascribed.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., 193. To the Sone connynge doth longe expres, Therwith the Serpent dyd Adam asay … Thus the secunde person attrybute Was only towchyd by temptacion.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 44. The verie Etimologie of the name [God] … declaring plainely the nature of the attribute, which is all one as if we sayd good.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 195. Mercy is aboue this sceptred sway … It is an attribute to God himselfe.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos., 3/2. The attribute of Wise … was conferr’d upon the rest in respect of their moral Rules and Practice.
1846. Wright, Ess. Mid. Ages, II. xiii. 88. It is surprising how soon historical personages become invested with romantic attributes.
† 2. Distinguished quality or character; honor, credit, reputation ascribed. (Cf. the parallel use of quality, rank, position, etc., in ‘a person of quality,’ i.e., ‘quality worth naming’) Obs.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iv. 22. It takes From our achievements … The pith and marrow of our attribute. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 125. Much attribute he hath, and much the reason, Why we ascribe it to him.
c. 1690. Temple, Heroic Virt., Wks. 1731, I. 194. Cæsar … possessed very eminently all the Qualities … that enter into the composition of an Heroe, but failed of the Attribute or Honour.
3. A material object recognized as appropriate to, and thus symbolic of, any office or actor; spec. in Painting, Sculpture: A conventional symbol added, as an accessory, to denote the character or show the identity of the personage represented.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 191. His Scepter shewes the force of temporall power, The attribute to awe and Maiestie.
1705. Addison, Italy, Rome, The sculptor, to distinguish him, gave him what the medallists call his proper attributes, a spear and a shield.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Attributes, The Club is an attribute of Hercules.
1814. Wordsw., Excurs., V. 492. A crown, an attribute of sovereign power.
1880. Waldstein, Pythag. Rhegion, 19. A … remnant of marble, which shows that he also held a long attribute in his left hand.
1883. Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 6. A small room full of his rifles and other implements and attributes of sport.
4. A quality or character considered to belong to or be inherent in a person or thing; a characteristic quality.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., viii. (1870), I. 151. Attribute is a word properly convertible with quality, for every quality is an attribute and every attribute is a quality; but in our language, custom has introduced a certain distinction in their application. Attribute is considered as a word of loftier signification, and is, therefore, conventionally limited to qualities of a higher application. Thus, for example, it would be felt as indecorous to speak of the qualities of God, and as ridiculous to talk of the attributes of matter.
(This distinction is hardly borne out by historical usage. Originally, ‘the attributes of God’ was preferred probably because men assumed no knowledge of the actual qualities of the Deity, but only of those more or less fitly ‘attributed’ him; i. e. ‘attributes’ in sense 1. But the exalted sense 2 may have associated itself with the expression in the minds of many who used it. J. A. H. M.)
[Cf. 1400 and 1596 in sense 1.]
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 26. All other fabulous fictions and attributes given unto them [the Gods] … have been devised only to give contentment to the readers.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. § 1. The attributes and acts of God, as far as they are revealed to man.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., vi. 208. Neither Matter, nor Motion as its Attribute and Property, can have existed from all Eternity.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., 72. Demonstrations of the Being and Attributes of God.
1825. McCulloch, Pol. Econ., I. 2. An attribute or quality of those articles only which it requires some portion of voluntary human labour to produce.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 208. Truth, wisdom, power, justice, holiness and other attributes … have in God their real being; in creatures a shadow of being only.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. ix. 359. Endowed with all the highest attributes of the statesman.
b. rarely applied to: A bodily quality.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxiv. Beauty was an attribute of the family.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., xix. 130. I will begin with her exterior attributes.
c. in Logic, That which may be predicated of any thing; a quality, mode of existence, affection; strictly an essential and permanent quality.
1785. Reid, Int. Powers, 440. Every attribute is what the ancients called an universal.
1843. Mill, Logic, I. ii. § 4. Whiteness, again, is the name of a quality or attribute of those things.
1870. Bowen, Logic, i. 8. The Concept is the Intuition stripped of its contingent or unessential attributes or marks.
5. Gram. Sometimes used for: A word denoting an attribute; an attributive word; a predicable. esp. in Sentence Analysis: = Attributive adjunct, i.e., an adjective, or a word, phrase, or clause, performing the function of an adjective.
1808. Middleton, Grk. Article (1855), 56. By Attributes Mr. Harris means Adjectives, Verbs, and Participles.
1867. Morell, Eng. Gram. (ed. 3), 53. The attribute to the noun, i.e. the adjective or whatever takes the place of the adjective.
1873. J. Curtis, Analysis, 5. The subject may be enlarged by an attribute.
