definitions

author

[ aw-ther ]
/ ˈɔ θər /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR author 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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RELATED WORDS

producer, creator, writer, columnist, journalist, composer, poet, reporter, biographer, ghost, originator, playwright, scribe, scribbler, wordsmith, essayist, scripter

Nearby words

authentically, authenticate, authenticator, authenticity, authigenic, author, author catalog, author's alteration, authoress, authorial, authoring

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

Related forms

au·tho·ri·al [aw-thawr-ee-uh l, aw-thohr-] /ɔˈθɔr i əl, ɔˈθoʊr-/, adjectiveau·thor·less, adjectivemul·ti·au·thored, adjectivepro·au·thor, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for author

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

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