AUTHORITIES
government, authorities, regime
(noun) the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit; “the government reduced taxes”; “the matter was referred to higher authorities”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
authorities
plural of authority
Noun
authorities pl (plural only)
The bodies that have political or administrative power and control in a particular sphere
The bodies that enforce law and order or provide a public service
Source: Wiktionary
AUTHORITY
Au*thor"i*ty, n.; pl. Authorities (. Etym: [OE. autorite, auctorite, F. autorité, 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. Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offense. Shak. By what authority doest thou these things Matt. xxi. 23.
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.]
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.
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. Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern Authority for sin, warrant for blame. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
4 April 2025
GUILLOTINE
(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”
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