authority

/əˈθɔːɹəti/uh-THAW-ruh-tee

/əˈθɔɹəti/uh-THAW-ruh-tee

Meaningthe quality of an author or originator

Common meaning: the power to give orders

Other meanings: an expert

authororiginatorSkeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), p. 43 · scan
itynoun ending: being so, the quality of

Journey through time

Latinauctor‘originator’source
Middle Englishautor‘writer’source
Englishauthor‘the person who wrote a book or other work’
Englishformed in English from authorauthority‘the power to give orders’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from author + -ity.

Dictionary: Skeat (1898), AUTHOR, p.43 · scan

Source words

auctor Latin · source word “originator”

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