01 n. Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdictio…
pl.
Authorities
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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4.
That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc.“Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern Authority for sin, warrant for blame.” — Shak.