author
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of author
Related Words for author
producer, creator, writer, columnist, journalist, composer, poet, reporter, biographer, ghost, originator, playwright, scribe, scribbler, wordsmith, essayist, scripterExamples from the Web for author
Contemporary Examples of author
The Amazon biography for an author named Papa Faal mentions both Gambia and lists a military record that matches the FBI report.
Author J.K. Rowling says all religions are present at her beloved wizard school—except Wiccans.
E.J. Graff, senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, is the author of What Is Marriage For?
I resisted it, though I was immediately told by someone in the group that the author reminded him of me.
She is the author of Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime and Terrorism (Cambridge University Press).
ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Growing Role of Human Trafficking in 21st Century TerrorismLouise I. Shelley
December 26, 2014
Historical Examples of author
Pray accept this author's copy with his best and hopefullest wishes.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with his purpose.
Which of the two, then, would our author want to explain metaphorically?
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part III]Benedict of Spinoza
The poem is in four cantos, the first of which is the best, and the most characteristic of the author.
Biographical SketchesNathaniel Hawthorne
From some other of the author's letters we are able to trace the gradual growth of the work.
De Libris: Prose and VerseAustin Dobson
author
- 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
- to write or originate
Word Origin for author
Word Origin and History for author
c.1300, autor "father," from Old French auctor, acteor "author, originator, creator, instigator (12c., Modern French auteur), from Latin auctorem (nominative auctor) "enlarger, founder, master, leader," literally "one who causes to grow," agent noun from auctus, past participle of augere "to increase" (see augment). Meaning "one who sets forth written statements" is from late 14c. The -t- changed to -th- 16c. on mistaken assumption of Greek origin.
...[W]riting means revealing onesself to excess .... This is why one can never be alone enough when one writes, why even night is not night enough. ... I have often thought that the best mode of life for me would be to sit in the innermost room of a spacious locked cellar with my writing things and a lamp. Food would be brought and always put down far away from my room, outside the cellar's outermost door. The walk to my food, in my dressing gown, through the vaulted cellars, would be my only exercise. I would then return to my table, eat slowly and with deliberation, then start writing again at once. And how I would write! From what depths I would drag it up! [Franz Kafka]
1590s, from author (n.). Revived 1940s, chiefly U.S. Related: Authored; authoring.