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Avow vs Ascribe - What's the difference?

avow | ascribe |

In lang=en terms the difference between avow and ascribe

is that avow is to bind or devote by a vow while ascribe is to attribute a book, painting or any work of art or literature to a writer or creator.

As verbs the difference between avow and ascribe

is that avow is to declare openly and boldly, as something believed to be right; to own, acknowledge or confess frankly while ascribe is to attribute a cause or characteristic to someone or something.

As a noun avow

is (obsolete) avowal.

avow

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To declare openly and boldly, as something believed to be right; to own, acknowledge or confess frankly.
  • * 1858 , Henry Stephens Randall, The Life of Thomas Jefferson (volume 1, page 461)
  • in 1786, and for some period later, there were few, if any, prominent Americans, who avowed themselves in favor of broadly democratic systems.
  • To bind or devote by a vow.
  • (Wyclif)
  • (legal) To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See avowry.
  • (Blackstone)

    Antonyms

    * disavow

    Noun

  • (obsolete) avowal
  • (Dryden)

    ascribe

    English

    Verb

    (ascrib)
  • To attribute a cause or characteristic to someone or something.
  • One may ascribe these problems to the federal government; however, at this stage it is unclear what caused them.
  • To attribute a book, painting or any work of art or literature to a writer or creator.
  • It is arguable as to whether we can truly ascribe this play to Shakespeare.

    Synonyms

    * attribute * impute

    Derived terms

    * ascribable

    Anagrams

    * ----