n. & v.
--n. (fem. authoress)
1. a writer, esp. of books.
2 the originator of an event, a condition, etc. (the author of all my woes).
--v.tr. disp. be the author of (a book, the universe, a child, etc.).
Derivatives:
authorial adj.
Etymology: ME f. AF autour, OF autor f. L auctor f. augere auct- increase, originate, promote