▪ I. impute, v.
(ɪmˈpjuːt)
Also 4 input, 6 inpute.
[a. F. imputer (Oresme, 14th c.), earlier OF. emputer, ad. L. imputāre to bring into the reckoning, enter into the account, charge, f. im- (im-1) + putāre to clear up, settle, reckon.]
1. a. trans. To bring (a fault or the like) into the reckoning against; to lay to the charge of; to attribute or assign as due or owing to († into, unto).
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Margaret 701 Ihesu, for þi pitte þu input nocht þis ded to me! 1490 Caxton Eneydos xx. 73 A lyar, that dredeth not..to Impute to theym [the goddes] that they ben cause of thyn vntrouth. 1535 Joye Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 30 Here he imputeth vnto me certain crimes. 1674 N. Cox Gentl. Recreat. ii. (1677) 173, I rather impute that fault to the ignorance, or negligence and harshness of the Faulconer. 1746 Johnson Plan Dict. Wks. IX. 185 We usually ascribe good, but impute evil. 1814 D'Israeli Quarrels Auth. (1867) 263 He had frequently imputed to the poet meanings which he never thought. 1869 Sir J. T. Coleridge Mem. Keble 353 No one could impute that he took them up hastily. 1875 Scrivener Lect. Text N. Test. 7 Variations such as we must at once impute to the fault of the scribe. |
b. Less usually in a good sense: To set to the credit of; to ascribe or reckon to.
| 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 16 Imputing all thinges to Gods grace. 1611 Bible Rom. iv. 22 It was imputed to him for righteousnesse. 1767 Johnson Let. to W. Drummond 21 Apr., I hope you do not flatter me by imputing to me more good than I have really done. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Universities Wks. (Bohn) II. 89, I imputed to these English an advantage in their secure and polished manners. |
2. Theol. To attribute or ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person by vicarious substitution: see imputation 2.
| [1539 Bible (Great) Rom. iv. 6 Dauid descrybeth the blessedfulnes of that man, vnto whom God imputeth ryghtewesnes wythout dedes.] 1583 Fulke Defence i. 121 The justice of Christ which is imputed unto us by faith. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 291 Thy merit Imputed shall absolve them who renounce Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds. 1771 Wesley Wks. (1872) V. 237 To all believers the righteousness of Christ is imputed. 1876 J. P. Norris Rudim. Theol. i. iii. 48 Luther's theory of imputation:—man's sin was imputed to Christ, and Christ's righteousness was imputed to man. |
3. a. To charge, arraign, or tax with fault; to accuse. ? Obs.
| 1596 Munday tr. Silvayn's Orator 25 You will impute me for favoring more the Plebeian then Patrician faction. 1625 Fletcher Noble Gent. i. i, If you fail, Do not impute me with it; I am clear. 1639 R. Gentilis Servita's Inquis. (1676) 886 They ought not to proceed but against the persons imputed. 1859 Tennyson Vivien 824 They..that most impute a crime Are pronest to it, and impute themselves. |
† b. loosely. To condemn, sentence. Obs. rare.
| c 1540 Pilgr. Tale 455 in Thynne Animadv. (1865) App. i. 90 O wyched worme..by god inputed to crepe apon thy brest. |
† 4. To reckon or take into account; to reckon, regard, consider. Obs.
| 1532 Tindale Exposit. (Parker Soc. 1849) 89 God promiseth to forgive us our sins, and to impute us for full righteous. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John xviii. 111 They..yet impute themselues pure and fre from murder. 1555 Eden Decades 48 Yowe may..impute this to occupie the place of the tenthe. 1611 Speed Theat. Gt. Brit. vi. (1614) 11/1 [K. Henry VI] for his holy life was imputed a Saint. 1673 Marvell Reh. Transp. II. 5 They impute it for a great obligation. 1727 Swift Prayer for Mrs. Johnson ii, Accept and impute all her good deeds. a 1794 Gibbon (Webster 1864), If we impute this last humiliation as the cause of his death. |
† 5. To impart. Obs.
| 1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas (1878) 63 Trust me, employ me, impute to me thy desires. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Faith ix, Thou didst make the sunne, Impute a lustre, and allow them bright. 1675 Traherne Chr. Ethics 57 The value of the objects imputes a lustre and higher value to the light wherein they are enjoyed. |
6. Econ. To attribute or assign (value) to a product or process by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes.
| 1893 C. A. Malloch tr. F. von Wieser's Natural Value iii. viii. 96 To each single item or quantity is imputed the smallest contribution which..can be economically aimed at by the employment of this particular item or quantity. 1893 W. Smart in C. A. Malloch tr. F. von Wieser's Natural Value p. xv, This determination of imputation by equations of return tells us nothing more than that certain shares are imputed to certain elements. 1945 E. Heimann Hist. Econ. Doctrines viii. ii. 197 A problem..had greatly concerned the Austrians from Menger on, namely how separate shares in the product can be imputed to the cost factors when they invariably co-operate in production. 1950 Dingwall & Hoselitz tr. Menger's Princ. Econ. iii. ii. 139 We logically impute this importance to the goods on whose availability we are conscious of being dependent. 1965 Seldon & Pennance Everyman's Dict. Econ. 210 The value of factors..was in all cases determined by (imputed from) the value of the final..goods to whose production they contributed. 1973 N.Y. Law Jrnl. 2 Aug. 4/4 If interest is not provided for, the Internal Revenue Service may impute interest to any deferred payments. |
Hence imˈputing vbl. n.; also imˈputer, one who imputes or charges.
| 1611 Cotgr., Imputeur, an imputor; a putter of thing vpon..others. 1630 Penit. Conf. xii. (1657) 316 For the not imputing, the remitting, and covering of sin appertain to the righteousness of faith. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 169, I wonder it is not vouched by the Imputers, that he was counterfaited by the Apostles themselves. |
▪ II. † imˈpute, n. Obs. rare—1.
[f. impute v.: cf. repute.]
Imputation, charge.
| 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Rich. II, xxv, Hee might be worthy blame, (If Royalty may fall vnder Impute). |
▪ III. impute
var. of input v., to put in.