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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

authorities \authorities\ n.
1. the organization that is the governing authority of a
political unit.

Syn: government, regime.
[WordNet 1.5]


Authority \Au*thor"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Authorities}. [OE. autorite,
auctorite, F. autorit['e], fr. L. auctoritas, fr. auctor. See
{Author}, n.]
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.
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Thus can the demigod, Authority,
Make us pay down for our offense. --Shak.
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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. Hence:
(a) Testimony; witness. "And on that high authority had
believed." --Milton.
(b) A precedent; a decision of a court, an official
declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement
worthy to be taken as a precedent.
(c) A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the
author of the book.
(d) Justification; warrant.
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Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern
Authority for sin, warrant for blame. --Shak.
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