See Also: author(dictionary)
co-author(dictionary)
author 1, noun(dictionary)
author 2, verb(dictionary)

author (iou)



author noun & verb. ME.
[Anglo-Norman autour, Old French autor (mod. auteur) from Latin auctor, from augere auct- increase, promote, originate.]
A. noun.
1. gen. The person who originates, invents, gives rise to, or causes something (now only an immaterial thing, a condition, an event, exc. of God). ME.
the Author (of all), the great Author God, the Creator.
W. Lambarde One Robert Creuequer, the authour of the Castle. J. Cheever Embittered by the waste that he himself was the author of. A. Hailey He was the author of early legislation to protect minorities.
b. A person who authorizes or instigates. M16-M17.
Shakespeare Titus Andronicus The gods of Rome forfend I should be author to dishonour you!
2. A father, an ancestor. arch. LME.
C. Lamb Certainly old Walter Plumer (his reputed author) had been a rake in his days.
3. The writer of a book, essay, article, etc.; a person who writes books etc. LME.
b. ellipt. An author's writings. E17.
Shakespeare Twelfth Night I will be proud, I will read politic authors.
c. The editor of a journal. L17-M18.
4. A person on whose authority a statement is made; an informant. obsolete exc. dial. LME.
W. Dampier Islands that abound with Gold and Cloves, If I may credit my Author Prince Jeoly.
Comb.: author-craft arch. (exercise of) skill as an author (of books etc.).
B. verb trans.
1. Originate, bring about, (an action, condition, circumstance, etc.). L16.
M. Lowry Who would ever have believed that some obscure man..was authoring their doom.
2. State, declare. E-M17.
3. Write, be the author of, (a book, essay, article, etc.). Orig. US. E20.
Time Her father..authored several successful plays and movies.
? The spelling with -th- was rare before 16.
authoress noun a female author L15.
authorial adjective of or pertaining to an author (of books etc.) L18.
authorially adverb M19.
authorism noun (now rare or obsolete) the position or character of an author of books etc. M18.
authorless adjective E18.
authorling noun a petty or insignificant writer L18.
authorly adjective proper to or characteristic of an author or authors L18.