Part 454

Such an overthrow . . . I have authored. Chapman.

2. To tell; to say; to declare. [Obs.]

More of him I dare not author. Massinger.

Au"thor*ess, n. A female author. Glover.

The word is not very much used, author being commonly applied to a female writer as well as to a male.

Au*tho"ri*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to an author. "The authorial &?;we.'" Hare.

Au"thor*ism ("thr*z'm), n. Authorship. [R.]

Au*thor"i*ta*tive (&?;), a. 1. Having, or proceeding from, due authority; entitled to obedience, credit, or acceptance; determinate; commanding.

The sacred functions of authoritative teaching. Barrow.

2. Having an air of authority; positive; dictatorial; peremptory; as, an authoritative tone.

The mock authoritative manner of the one, and the insipid mirth of the other. Swift.

-- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ly, adv. -- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ness, n.

Au*thor"i*ty (&?;), n.; pl. Authorities (&?;). [OE. autorite, auctorite, F. autorité, fr. L. auctoritas, fr. auctor. See Author, n.] 1. Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court.

Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offense. Shak.

By what authority doest thou these things ? Matt. xxi. 23.

2. Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities. [Chiefly in the plural.]

3. The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority.

4. That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc. Hence: (a) Testimony; witness. "And on that high authority had believed." Milton. (b) A precedent; a decision of a court, an official declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as a precedent. (c) A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the author of the book. (d) Justification; warrant.

Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern Authority for sin, warrant for blame. Shak.

Au"thor*i`za*ble (&?;), a. [LL. authorisabilis.] Capable of being authorized. Hammond.

Au`thor*i*za"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. autorisation.] The act of giving authority or legal power; establishment by authority; sanction or warrant.

The authorization of laws. Motley.

A special authorization from the chief. Merivale.

Au"thor*ize (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Authorized (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Authorizing.] [OE. autorize, F. autoriser, fr. LL. auctorizare, authorisare. See Author.] 1. To clothe with authority, warrant, or legal power; to give a right to act; to empower; as, to authorize commissioners to settle a boundary.

2. To make legal; to give legal sanction to; to legalize; as, to authorize a marriage.

3. To establish by authority, as by usage or public opinion; to sanction; as, idioms authorized by usage.

4. To sanction or confirm by the authority of some one; to warrant; as, to authorize a report.

A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shak.