[au.thor.i.ty] n, pl -ties [ME auctorite, fr. OF auctorite, fr. L auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, fr. auctor] (13c) 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; specif: government b: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise "the transit ~"
4. a: grounds, warrant "had excellent ~ for believing the claim" b: convincing force "lent ~ to the performance" syn see influence, power