Attribuit

Attribuit is a Latin verb form derived from attribuere, meaning to attribute, assign, or ascribe. It is the third-person singular form of attribuere in the present indicative active in classical Latin, and is commonly translated as “he attributes.” In contexts describing past action, the same form can be rendered as “he attributed” depending on the tense signaled by surrounding verbs.

Etymology and formation: attribuere is a compound built from ad- ‘to’ and tribuere ‘to grant, allot.’ The sense of the word centers on transferring a quality, action, or property from one entity to another. The form attribuit shares the same stem attribu- and is one of the frequent endings for the third-person singular in the present system.

Usage and context: In Latin texts, attribuit is used to indicate that something is attributed or assigned to someone. It appears in legal, rhetorical, and narrative passages where authors discuss authorship, causation, or possession. The required tense is determined by the surrounding verb system, with the infinitive form being attribuere.

Example: Marcus virtutem Iovi attribuit. This can be translated as “Marcus attributes virtue to Jupiter,” illustrating the attribution relationship expressed by the verb form.

See also: Latin verbs, attribuere, Latin grammar, attribution in classical texts.