author

[ aw-ther ]

/ ˈɔ θər /

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See synonyms for: author / authored / authoring on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

the literary production or productions of a writer: to find a passage in an author.

the maker of anything; creator; originator: the author of a new tax plan.

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

verb (used with object)

to write; be the author of: He authored a history of the Civil War.

to originate; create a design for: She authored a new system for teaching chemistry.

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Origin of author

1250–1300; earlier auct(h)or<Latin auctor writer, progenitor, equivalent to aug(ēre) to increase, augment + -tor-tor; replacing Middle English auto(u)r<Anglo-French, for Old French autor<Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM author

au·tho·ri·al

[aw-thawr-ee-uhl, aw-thohr-], /ɔˈθɔr i əl, ɔˈθoʊr-/, adjectiveau·thor·less, adjectivemul·ti·au·thored, adjectivepro·au·thor, adjective

Words nearby author

authenticate, authentication, authenticator, authenticity, authigenic, author, author catalog, authoress, authoring, authoritarian, authoritarian personality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use author in a sentence

I also interviewed the author for the Commonwealth Club of Northern California.
Democracy depends on Washington improving its tech|Adam Lashinsky|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Disappointingly, the authors offer few peeks at their personal backgrounds and how they ended up doing what they do.
‘The Origins of You’ explores how kids develop into their adult selves|Bruce Bower|September 16, 2020|Science News
He’s an author of a May 2020 paper about these mysterious and poorly known plants.
‘Vampire’ parasite challenges the definition of a plant|Susan Milius|September 16, 2020|Science News For Students
The Chicago Sky feature the finest point guard of this generation, and possibly any generation, in Courtney Vandersloot, author of the three highest single-season assist percentages in WNBA history.
It’s Win Or Go Home This Week In The WNBA Playoffs|Howard Megdal|September 15, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Structured data can be used to tag authors, ratings, product features, locations, and so much more.
8 major Google ranking factors — SEO guide|Sponsored Content: SEO PowerSuite|September 15, 2020|Search Engine Land
The Amazon biography for an author named Papa Faal mentions both Gambia and lists a military record that matches the FBI report.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country|Jacob Siegel|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Author J.K. Rowling says all religions are present at her beloved wizard school—except Wiccans.
Harry Potter and the Torah of Terror|Candida Moss, Joel Baden|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
E.J. Graff, senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, is the author of What Is Marriage For?
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality|E.J. Graff|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most of us have an unhealthy relationship with anger, writes author and psychologist Andrea Brandt.
Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You?|Lizzie Crocker|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I resisted it, though I was immediately told by someone in the group that the author reminded him of me.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Louis Petit de Bachaumon died; a native of Paris, known as the author of several literary works.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
William Hewson died; an eminent English anatomist, and medical author.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Philip Limborch died; a Dutch professor of divinity, and author of a history of the inquisition.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He was learned, benevolent and pious, and author of several religious works.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
He was the author of many learned theological works and controversial publications.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for author

author

/ (ˈɔːθə) /

noun

a person who composes a book, article, or other written workRelated adjective: auctorial

a person who writes books as a profession; writer

the writings of such a personreviewing a postwar author

an originator or creatorthe author of this plan

verb (tr)

to write or originate

Derived forms of author

authorial (ɔːˈθɔːrɪəl), adjective

Word Origin for author

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

author

Origin of author

OTHER WORDS FROM author

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British Dictionary definitions for author

Derived forms of author

Word Origin for author