Definition of: authority

(ə·thôr′ə·tē, ə·thor′-) noun plural ·ties
1. The right to command and to enforce obedience; the right to act officially.
2. Personal power that commands influence, respect, or confidence.
3. The person or persons in whom government or command is vested: often in the plural.
4. That which is or may be appealed to in support of action or belief, as an author, volume, etc.
5. An authoritative opinion, decision, or precedent. See synonyms under INFLUENCE, PERMISSION, PRECEDENT. [<F autorité <L auctoritas, -tatis power, authority <augere increase]