Authority

[Fr. autorité; Lat. auctoritas, from auctor.] The quality of a person, or thing, by which he, or it, promotes anything; legal power; rule; sway; right; as, the authority of a parent over a child. "But man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority." - Shaks. Government; body of men in power; persons in command; -chiefly used in the plural; as, the state author ities. "I know, my lord, If law, authority , and power deny not, It will go hard with poor Antonio." - Shaks. -Influence of character or office; mental or moral superiority; credit. "But authority arising from opinion, is in those that govern." Sir W. Temple. -Testimony; witne ; warrant. "Dost thou expect th' authority of their voices whose silent will condemns them?"- Ben Jonson. -Precedent; official declaration, opinion, or saying worthy of being cited as a precedent; also a book containing them, or the name of its author.