2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  Thus  can  the  demigod,  Authority,  Make  us  pay  down 
  for  our  offense.  --Shak. 
 
  By  what  authority  doest  thou  these  things  ?  --Matt. 
  xxi.  23. 
 
  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.] 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  Wilt  thou  be  glass  wherein  it  shall  discern 
  Authority  for  sin,  warrant  for  blame.  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  authority 
  n  1:  the  power  to  exercise  authoritative  or  dominating  control  or 
  influence  over  "he  has  the  authority  to  issue  warrants" 
  [syn:  {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" 
  [syn:  {assurance},  {self-assurance},  {confidence},  {self-confidence}, 
  {sureness}] 
  5:  an  administrative  unit  of  government;  "the  Central 
  Intelligence  Agency";  "the  Census  Bureau";  "Office  of 
  Management  and  Budget";  "Tennessee  Valley  Authority"  [syn: 
  {agency},  {government  agency},  {bureau},  {office}] 
  6:  a  grant  of  authority  to  the  executive  branch  of  government 
  to  spend  money  for  specified  purposes;  "authority  for  the 
  program  was  renewed  several  times"  [syn:  {authorization}] 
  7:  an  authoritative  written  work  "this  book  is  the  final 
  authority  on  the  life  of  Milton" 
  8:  a  power  delegated  from  one  person  to  another;  "deputies  are 
  given  the  power  to  make  arrests"  [syn:  {authorization}] 
  9:  the  act  of  final  authorization;  "it  had  the  sanction  of  the 
  church"  [syn:  {sanction}] 

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