(n.) 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.
(n.) Government; the persons or the body exercising power or
command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military
authorities.
(n.) 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.
(n.) That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in
support of opinions, actions, measures, etc.
(n.) Testimony; witness.
(n.) A precedent; a decision of a court, an official
declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as
a precedent.
(n.) A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the
author of the book.
(n.) Justification; warrant.
