author

[aw-ther]

noun

1. a person who writes a novel, poem, essay, etc.; the composer of a literary work, as distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.

2. the literary production or productions of a writer.

   to find a passage in an author.

3. the maker of anything; creator; originator.

   the author of a new tax plan.

4. Computers.,  the writer of a software program, especially a hypertext or multimedia application.

verb (used with object)

1. to write; be the author of.

   He authored a history of the Civil War.

2. to originate; create a design for.

   She authored a new system for teaching chemistry.

author

/ ɔːˈθɔːrɪəl, ˈɔːθə /

noun

1. a person who composes a book, article, or other written work

2. a person who writes books as a profession; writer

3. the writings of such a person

   reviewing a postwar author

4. an originator or creator

   the author of this plan

verb

1. to write or originate

Other Word Forms

• authorial adjective
• authorless adjective
• multiauthored adjective
• proauthor adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of author¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English auct(h)or, from Latin auctor “founder, originator, writer,” equivalent to aug(ēre) “to increase” ( augment ) + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English auto(u)r, from Anglo-French; Old French autor, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of author¹

C14: from Old French autor, from Latin auctor author, from augēre to increase

Example Sentences

"Looking back, many of us feel our lives have been characterized by different phases. It turns out that brains also go through these eras," said senior author Prof Duncan Astle, Professor of Neuroinformatics at Cambridge.

Read more on Science Daily

In 2015, Congress authorized California’s program through a highway funding bill, but that authorization expired Sept. 30.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The authors noted that Airbus and France's Safran sourced half of their titanium from Russia before 2022 and have had to find new suppliers.

Read more on Barron's

Twenty-five years ago, Princeton University authorized me to establish and direct a program in civic education dedicated to helping young men and women become determined truth seekers, courageous truth speakers, lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lead author and Sur Lab postdoctoral researcher Sofie Ährlund-Richter also sought to identify which specific neurons receive these signals and how the communication influences downstream processing.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• biographer 
• columnist 
• composer 
• creator 
• journalist 
• poet 
• producer 
• reporter 
• writer