n.
Pronunciation: ə - ' thär- ə -t ē , o ̇ -, - ' tho ̇ r-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
Etymology: Middle English auctorite, from Anglo-French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor
Date: 13th century
1 a (1) : a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2) : the source from which the citation is drawn b (1) : a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2) : a decision taken as a precedent (3) : TESTIMONY c : an individual cited or appealed to as an expert
2 a : power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b : freedom granted by one in authority : RIGHT
3 a : persons in command specifically : GOVERNMENT b : a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise <the transit authority >
4 a : GROUNDS , WARRANT <had excellent authority for believing the claim> b : convincing force <lent authority to the performance>
synonyms see INFLUENCE , POWER