'attributiveness' originates from English, specifically the adjective 'attributive', where the suffix '-ness' forms a noun meaning 'state or quality'.

'attributive' derives from the verb 'attribute', which comes from Latin 'attribuere' (from ad- 'to' + tribuere 'to give'); 'attribute' entered English via Middle English (and Old French influence), and the noun 'attributiveness' was formed in Modern English by adding '-ness' to 'attributive'.

Initially related to the action or idea of 'ascribing' or 'assigning' (from 'attribute'), it shifted to describe the property of serving as an attribute (the current meaning: 'the quality of functioning as a modifier').