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 auctorial
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

Derived Forms

• authorial, adjective

Other Words From

• au·tho·ri·al [aw-, thawr, -ee-, uh, l, aw-, thohr, -], adjective
• author·less adjective
• multi·authored adjective
• pro·author 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

That last budget was put together by the man Trump is bringing back as his Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and one of the principal authors of Project 2025, Russell Vought.

From Salon

The work is the product of 20 authors representing five institutions: the U of A, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Linköping University in Sweden, Oakland University and the University of Kentucky.

From Science Daily

In humans, disruptions to this system are also thought to be hallmarks of auditory hallucinations, or "hearing voices," in people with schizophrenia who cannot distinguish "real" voices from outside sounds, say the study authors.

From Science Daily

To explore this, the authors used state-of-the-art live cell imaging to study the activity of brain cells in anaesthetised and awake mice during urination.

From Science Daily

"This strong quantitative and qualitative evidence highlights the effectiveness of our approach," said Lingyu Zhang, the lead author and a first-year PhD student in Chen's lab.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• code
• program
• write