Search Result for "authority": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (7)

1. the power or right to give orders or make decisions;
- Example: "he has the authority to issue warrants"
- Example: "deputies are given authorization to make arrests"
- Example: "a place of potency in the state"
[syn: authority, authorization, authorisation, potency, dominance, say-so]

2. (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others;
- Example: "the authorities have issued a curfew"

3. an expert whose views are taken as definitive;
- Example: "he is an authority on corporate law"

4. freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
- Example: "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"
- Example: "after that failure he lost his confidence"
- Example: "she spoke with authority"
[syn: assurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, authority, sureness]

5. an administrative unit of government;
- Example: "the Central Intelligence Agency"
- Example: "the Census Bureau"
- Example: "Office of Management and Budget"
- Example: "Tennessee Valley Authority"
[syn: agency, federal agency, government agency, bureau, office, authority]

6. official permission or approval;
- Example: "authority for the program was renewed several times"
[syn: authority, authorization, authorisation, sanction]

7. an authoritative written work;
- Example: "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton"



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Authority \Au*thor"i*ty\, n.; pl. Authorities. [OE. autorite,
   auctorite, F. autorit['e], 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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Thus can the demigod, Authority,
            Make us pay down for our offense.     --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            By what authority doest thou these things ? --Matt.
                                                  xxi. 23.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.]
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
          [1913 Webster]

                Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern
                Authority for sin, warrant for blame. --Shak.
          [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

authority
    n 1: the power or right to give orders or make decisions; "he
         has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given
         authorization to make arrests"; "a place of potency in the
         state" [syn: authority, authorization, authorisation,
         potency, dominance, say-so]
    2: (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative)
       control over others; "the authorities have issued a curfew"
    3: an expert whose views are taken as definitive; "he is an
       authority on corporate law"
    4: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
       "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular";
       "after that failure he lost his confidence"; "she spoke with
       authority" [syn: assurance, self-assurance, confidence,
       self-confidence, authority, sureness]
    5: an administrative unit of government; "the Central
       Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of
       Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority" [syn:
       agency, federal agency, government agency, bureau,
       office, authority]
    6: official permission or approval; "authority for the program
       was renewed several times" [syn: authority,
       authorization, authorisation, sanction]
    7: an authoritative written work; "this book is the final
       authority on the life of Milton"