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 ]

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 ]

2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book. Josh. xviii. 9.

Syn. -- To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inscribe a verse on this relenting stone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mark with letters, characters, or words. [ 1913 Webster ]

O let thy once lov'd friend inscribe thy stone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To assign or address to; to commend to by a short address; to dedicate informally; as, to inscribe an ode to a friend. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To imprint deeply; to impress; to stamp; as, to inscribe a sentence on the memory. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Geom.) To draw within so as to meet yet not cut the boundaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A line is inscribed in a circle, or in a sphere, when its two ends are in the circumference of the circle, or in the surface of the sphere. A triangle is inscribed in another triangle, when the three angles of the former are severally on the three sides of the latter. A circle is inscribed in a polygon, when it touches each side of the polygon. A sphere is inscribed in a polyhedron, when the sphere touches each boundary plane of the polyhedron. The latter figure in each case is circumscribed about the former. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prescribe not us our duties. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as, the doctor prescribed quinine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To appoint; order; command; dictate; ordain; institute; establish. [ 1913 Webster ]

A forwardness to prescribe to their opinions. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To influence by long use [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment, that is, by a custom having the force of law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, . . . was banished the realm, and proscribed. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To denounce and condemn; to interdict; to prohibit; as, the Puritans proscribed theaters. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Arian doctrines were proscribed and anathematized in the famous Council of Nice. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To write over again. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Carp.) To cut (anything) in such a way as to fit closely to a somewhat irregular surface, as a baseboard to a floor which is out of level, a board to the curves of a molding, or the like; -- so called because the workman marks, or scribes, with the compasses the line that he afterwards cuts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To score or mark with compasses or a scribing iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scribing iron, an iron-pointed instrument for scribing, or marking, casks and logs. [ 1913 Webster ]

With the separated points of a pair of spring dividers scribe around the edge of the templet. A. M. Mayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Jewish Hist.) A writer and doctor of the law; one skilled in the law and traditions; one who read and explained the law to the people. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] subscribed their names under them. Sir T. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sign with one's own hand; to give consent to, as something written, or to bind one's self to the terms of, by writing one's name beneath; as, parties subscribe a covenant or contract; a man subscribes a bond. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the bishops subscribed the sentence. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To attest by writing one's name beneath; as, officers subscribe their official acts, and secretaries and clerks subscribe copies or records. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To promise to give, by writing one's name with the amount; as, each man subscribed ten dollars. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To sign away; to yield; to surrender. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To declare over one's signature; to publish. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Either or must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give consent to something written, by signing one's name; hence, to assent; to agree. [ 1913 Webster ]

So spake, so wished, much humbled Eve; but Fate
Subscribed not. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To become surely; -- with for. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To yield; to admit one's self to be inferior or in the wrong. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I will subscribe, and say I wronged the duke. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give a certain sum. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To enter one's name for a newspaper, a book, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who enters his name for a paper, book, map, or the like. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]