attribute

[In Sw., Dan., Ger., & Fr. at tri but; Sp. atributo Port. & Ital. attributo; from Lat. at tri but us, pa. par. of attribuo.] A. Ordinary Language: 1. That which is attributed, ascribed, or imputed to any person or thing, as an e ential characteristic of him or it. A characteristic quality of any person or thing. "Reflect his attributes , who placed them there." Cowper: Tirocinium. 2. That which is symbolic of one's office or character, or of anything. [Β., 2.] "A crown, an attribute of sovereign power." Words worth: Excursion, bk. v. 3. Honour, reputation. "The pith and marrow of our attribute ." Shakesp. Hamlet , L. 4. B. Technically : 1. Logic : That which is predicated of any subject; that which may be affirmed or denied of anything. Sir William Hamilton divides attributes into Primary, Sccundo-primary, and Secondary. Herbert Spencer, objecting that these words have direct reference to the Kantian doctrine of Space and Time, from which he di ents, and that they are in another respect inaccurate, divides attributes into Dynamical, Statico-dynamical, and Statical (q.v.). ( Herbert Spencer: Psychol., 2nd ed., vol. ii., p. 136, § 317.) 2. Painting and Sculpture: That which is represented with one as being symbolical of one's office or character. Thus the trident is the attribute of Neptune. [A., 2.] at-trib-u-těd, pa. par. at-trib-u-ting, pr. par.