*rib*

a. Capable of being ascribed; attributable. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ascribed p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing. ] [ L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe. ] 1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author. [ 1913 Webster ]

The finest [ speech ] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view. [ 1913 Webster ]

More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being attributed; ascribable; imputable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Errors . . . attributable to carelessness. J. D. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Attributing. ] [ L. attributus, p. p. of attribuere; ad + tribuere to bestow. See Tribute. ] To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to). [ 1913 Webster ]

We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it. Abp. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Ascribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. attributum. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .
It is an attribute to God himself. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Reputation. [ Poetic ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Paint. & Sculp.) A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is ascribed or attributed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n., (Gram.) A word that denotes an attribute; esp. a modifying word joined to a noun; an adjective or adjective phrase. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. attributif. ] Attributing; pertaining to, expressing, or assigning an attribute; of the nature of an attribute. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an attributive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A piece of pork cut lower down than the sparerib, and destitute of fat. [ Eng. ] Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To dribble upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Singhalese beri weakness. ] An acute disease occurring in India, characterized by multiple inflammatory changes in the nerves, producing great muscular debility, a painful rigidity of the limbs, and cachexy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To scribble over. “Bescribbled with impertinences.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. prenom. selected or chosen for special qualifications; as, a blue-ribbon grand jury.
Syn. -- blue ribbon(predicate), select. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Capable of being bribed. [ 1913 Webster ]

A more bribable class of electors. S. Edwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of meals (that are generally given to a beggar), LL. briba scrap of bread; cf. OF. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonously, to beg, and OHG. bilibi food. ] 1. A gift begged; a present. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, voter, or other person in a position of trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe. Hobart. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which seduces; seduction; allurement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these ever&unr_;blooming sweets. Akenside. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bribed p. pr. & vb. n. Bribing. ] 1. To rob or steal. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give or promise a reward or consideration to (a judge, juror, legislator, voter, or other person in a position of trust) with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to induce or influence by a bribe; to give a bribe to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience. F. W. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To gain by a bribe; of induce as by a bribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To commit robbery or theft. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a bribe to a person; to pervert the judgment or corrupt the action of a person in a position of trust, by some gift or promise. [ 1913 Webster ]

An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be criminal, and the offender may be indicted. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bard may supplicate, but cannot bribe. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Incapable of being bribed; free from bribes. [ 1913 Webster ]

From thence to heaven's bribeless hall. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A thief. [ Obs. ] Lydgate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who bribes, or pays for corrupt practices. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which bribes; a bribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

His service . . . were a sufficient briber for his life. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Briberies [ OE. brybery rascality, OF. briberie. See Bribe, n. ] 1. Robbery; extortion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or practice of giving or taking bribes; the act of influencing the official or political action of another by corrupt inducements. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bribery oath, an oath taken by a person that he has not been bribed as to voting. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Caries. [ See Cannibal. ] (Ethol.) A native of the Caribbee islands or the coasts of the Caribbean sea; esp., one of a tribe of Indians inhabiting a region of South America, north of the Amazon, and formerly most of the West India islands. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to the Caribs, to their islands (the eastern and southern West Indies), or to the sea (called the Caribbean sea) lying between those islands and Central America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A Carib. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. a cannibal. ] (Zool). A south American fresh water fish of the genus Serrasalmo of many species, remarkable for its voracity. When numerous they attack man or beast, often with fatal results.

[ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Canadian French. ] (Zool.) The American reindeer, especially the common or woodland species (Rangifer Caribou). [ 1913 Webster ]

Barren Ground caribou. See under Barren. --
Woodland caribou, the common reindeer (Rangifer Caribou) of the northern forests of America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Caribou. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cephalo- + Gr. to rub, grind. ] An obstetrical instrument for performing cephalotripsy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being circumscribed. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Circumscribed p. pr. & vb. n. Circumscribing. ] [ L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. to write or engrave around. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. Ashmole. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain. [ 1913 Webster ]

To circumscribe royal power. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geom.) To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5.

Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, circumscribes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., from L. clarus clear + bellus fine. ] (Mus.) A soft, sweet stop, or set of open wood pipes in an organ. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. conscribere. See Conscript. ] To enroll; to enlist. [ Obs. ] E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being contributed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Contributory. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tributary; contributing. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It was situated on the Ganges, at the place where this river received a contributary stream. D'Anville (Trans. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Contributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Contributing. ] [ L. contributus, p. p. of contribuere to bring together, to add; con- + tribuere to grant, impart. See Tribute. ] To give or grant i common with others; to give to a common stock or for a common purpose; to furnish or suply in part; to give (money or other aid) for a specified object; as, to contribute food or fuel for the poor. [ 1913 Webster ]

England contributes much more than any other of the allies. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To give a part to a common stock; to lend assistance or aid, or give something, to a common purpose; to have a share in any act or effect. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are engaged in war; the secretary of state calls upon the colonies to contribute. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give or use one's power or influence for any object; to assist. [ 1913 Webster ]

These men also contributed to obstruct the progress of wisdom. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. contributio: cf. F. contribution. ] 1. The act of contributing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is contributed; -- either the portion which an individual furnishes to the common stock, or the whole which is formed by the gifts of individuals. [ 1913 Webster ]

A certain contribution for the poor saints which are at jerusalem. Rom. xv. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aristotle's actual contributions to the physical sciences. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mil.) An irregular and arbitrary imposition or tax leved on the people of a town or country. [ 1913 Webster ]

These sums, . . . and the forced contributions paid by luckless peasants, enabled him to keep his straggling troops together. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) Payment, by each of several jointly liable, of a share in a loss suffered or an amount paid by one of their number for the common benefit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or furnishing, a contribution. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Life Insurance) A plan of distributing surplus by giving to each policy the excess of premiums and interest earned thereon over the expenses of management, cost of insurance, and the policy value at the date of computation. This excess is called the contribution of the policy. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Contributing, or tending to contribute. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, contributes; specifically, one who writes articles for a newspaper, magazine, or book. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Contributing to the same stock or purpose; promoting the same end; bringing assistance to some joint design, or increase to some common stock; contributive. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bonfires of contributory wood. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contributory negligence (Law), negligence by an injured party, which combines with the negligence of the injurer in producing the injury, and which bars recovery when it is the proximate cause of the injury. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Contributories One who contributes, or is liable to be called upon to contribute, as toward the discharge of a common indebtedness. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A crib for storing corn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. crybb; akin to OS. kribbja, D. krib, kribbe, Dan. krybbe, G. krippe, and perh. to MHG. krebe basket, G, korb, and E. rip a sort of wicker basket. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A manger or rack; a feeding place for animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

The steer lion at one crib shall meet. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stall for oxen or other cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean. Prov. xiv. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A small inclosed bedstead or cot for a child. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A box or bin, or similar wooden structure, for storing grain, salt, etc.; as, a crib for corn or oats. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A hovel; a hut; a cottage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why rather, Sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, . . .
Than in the perfumed chambers of the great? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mining) A structure or frame of timber for a foundation, or for supporting a roof, or for lining a shaft. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A structure of logs to be anchored with stones; -- used for docks, pier, dams, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A small raft of timber. [ Canada ] [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A small theft; anything purloined; a plagiarism; hence, a translation or key, etc., to aid a student in preparing or reciting his lessons. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The Latin version technically called a crib. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Occasional perusal of the Pagan writers, assisted by a crib. Wilkie Collins. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. A miner's luncheon. [ Cant ] Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Card Playing) The discarded cards which the dealer can use in scoring points in cribbage. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cribbed p. pr. & vb. n. Cribbing. ] 1. To shut up or confine in a narrow habitation; to cage; to cramp. [ 1913 Webster ]

If only the vital energy be not cribbed or cramped. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now I am cabin'd, cribbed, confined. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pilfer or purloin; hence, to steal from an author; to appropriate; to plagiarize; as, to crib a line from Milton. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Child, being fond of toys, cribbed the necklace. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To crowd together, or to be confined, as in a crib or in narrow accommodations. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Who sought to make . . . bishops to crib in a Presbyterian trundle bed. Gauden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make notes for dishonest use in recitation or examination. [ College Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To seize the manger or other solid object with the teeth and draw in wind; -- said of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]