/ ˈɔːθə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a person who writes books or the person who wrote a particular book :
Who is your favourite author?
He is the author of three books on art.
best-selling author Joan Collins
Who's the author?
2.
the person who creates or starts sth, especially a plan or an idea :
As the author of the proposal I cannot agree with you.
■ verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to be the author of a book, report, etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense a person who invents or causes something ): from Old French autor , from Latin auctor , from augere increase, originate, promote. The spelling with th arose in the 15th cent., and perhaps became established under the influence of authentic .