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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary au·thor·i·ty (plural -ties) ETYMOLOGY Middle English auctorite, from Anglo-French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor DATE 13th century 1. a. (1) a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2) the source from which the citation is drawn b. (1) a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2) a decision taken as a precedent (3) testimony c. an individual cited or appealed to as an expert 2. a. power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b. freedom granted by one in authority : right 3. a. persons in command; specifically : government b. a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise the transit authority 4. a. grounds, warrant had excellent authority for believing the claim b. convincing force lent authority to the performance Synonyms: see influence , power English Etymology authority early 13c., autorite "book or quotation that settles an argument," from O.Fr . auctorité (12c.; Mod.Fr. autorité), from L.auctoritatem (nom. auctoritas) "invention, advice, opinion, influence, command," from auctor "master, leader, author" (see author). Usually spelled with a -c- in English till 16c., when it was dropped, in imitation of the French. Meaning "power to enforce obedience" is from late 14c.; meaning "people in authority" is from 1610s. Authorities "those in charge, those with police powers" is recorded from mid-19c.http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ authority au·thor·ity / C:5WCrEti; NAmE E5WC:r-; E5WB:r- / noun(pl. -ies) POWER 权力 1. [U] the power to give orders to people 权力；管辖权；当权(地位): in a position of authority 当权 She now has authority over the people who used to be her bosses. 她现在管辖着过去是她上司的那些人。 Nothing will be done because no six in authority (= who has a position of power) takes the matter seriously. 什么也办不了,因为掌权的谁也不认真对待这个问题。 2. [U] ~ (to do sth) the power or right to do sth 权；职权: Only the manager has the authority to sign cheques. 只有经理才有权签支票。 PERMISSION 准许 3. [U] official permission to do sth 批准；授权: It was done without the principal's authority. 做这件事未经校长批准。 We acted under the authority of the UN. 我们是经联合国授权行动的。 ORGANIZATION 组织机构 4. [C, usually pl.] the people or an organization who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or region 当局；官方；当权者: The health authorities are investigating the problem. 衞生当局正在调查这个问题。 I have to report this to the authorities. 我得向官方报告此事。 ⇨ see also local authority KNOWLEDGE 知识 5. [U] the power to influence people because they respect your knowledge or official position 权威；威信；影响力: He spoke with authority on the topic. 他就这个课题发表权威意见。 EXPERT 专家 6. [C] ~ (on sth) a person with special knowledge 专家；学术权威；泰斗 SYN specialist :
She's an authority on criminal law. 她是刑法专家。 IDIOMS ▪ have sth on good au'thority to be able to believe sth because you trust the person who gave you the information 有可靠的根据 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English authority noun 1 sth with the power to give orders ADJ. district, local, regional | government, public | education, health, military, planning, tax The government is urging education authorities to spend less money. | competent, lawful, relevant, statutory AUTHORITY + VERB agree sth, claim sth, decide sth, deny sth, promise sth The local health authority denied negligence. | allow (sb) sth, give (sb) sth, grant (sb) sth The local authority has not granted planning permission. 2 power/right to give orders ADJ. absolute, complete, full, supreme | governmental, judicial, legal, ministerial, parental, presidential VERB + AUTHORITY have Parents have the authority to discipline their children. | assume He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689. | give sb | assert, demonstrate, establish, exercise, exert, show, use, wield The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority. | delegate | give up, relinquish | abuse | challenge, defy, deny, rebel against, reject, undermine She had challenged my authority once too often. | usurp AUTHORITY + NOUN figure adult authority figures such as parents and teachers PREP. in ~ I need to talk to someone in authority. | under the ~ of This can only be done under the authority of the government minister. | without ~ He took the car without authority. | ~ over Central government has extensive authority over teachers. PHRASES an air of authority He bore an air of authority. | position of authority She holds a position of authority in the local church. 3 person with special knowledge ADJ. leading, respected, world | unimpeachable, unquestioned VERB + AUTHORITY cite, invoke Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities. PREP. ~ on She's a leading authority on genetics. OLT authority noun ⇨ authorities (report sb to the authorities)⇨ control (have authority over sb)⇨ expert (a leading authority on the subject)⇨ right (have the authority to sign company cheques)⇨ permission (You will need the written authority of the landlord.) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged au·thor·i·ty \əˈthärəd.ē, -thȯr-, -ətē, -i also ȯˈth-\ noun (-es) Etymology: Middle English authorite, alteration of autorite, auctorite, from Old French autorité, auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas, from auctor originator, author + -itat-, -itas -ity 1. a. : a citation (as from a book) used in defense or support of one's actions, opinions, or beliefs; also : the source from which such a citation is drawn < they used a brief passage from the book as their authority > < he quoted extensively from the Bible, his sole authority > b. : a conclusive statement or aggregate of statements (as an official decision of a court) : decisive declaration taken as a precedent; also : testimony < they viewed the court's decision as an unquestionable authorityfor their action > < heard on the best authority > c. : an individual (as a specialist in a given field) who is the source of conclusive statements or testimony : one who is cited or appealed to as an expert whose opinion deserves acceptance < there was a long and fierce dispute between scholars who held that Cicero was an unchallengeable authority — Gilbert Highet > < one should always be prepared to quote authorities in support of one's theories — Aldous Huxley > 2. a. : power to require and receive submission : the right to expect obedience : superiority derived from a status that carries with it the right to command and give final decisions : dominion , jurisdiction < the authority of parents over their children > < the authority of the president > < the authority of a judge > b. : delegated power over others : authorization < he acted with the full authority of the government > c. : freedom granted by one in authority : right < do you have the authority to leave when you want to > 3. a. : power to influence thought and opinion : intellectual influence < Voltaire had his enemies, but his authority could not be denied > b. : power to influence the outward behavior of others : practical personal influence < the authority of fashion > 4. a. : persons in command; specifically : government — now usually used in plural in the concrete < the local authorities of each state > and sing. in the abstract < the public authority is responsible for our protection > b. : a public administrative agency or corporation having quasi-governmental powers and authorized to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise < the port authority > < the valley authority > 5. : justifying grounds : basis , warrant < on what authority can you act as you do > 6. : convincing force : weight < his sincerity added much more authority to the story > 7. : a combination of unstrained definitive masterfulness, clear-sighted ingenuity and skill, and economical attainment of an objective (as in a piece of writing or in a musical performance) < a recording that is unequaled for its finesse and authority > 8. : author 6Synonyms: see influence , power |
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