Au"thor (&add;"th&etilde;r), v. t. 1.
To occasion; to originate.
[Obs.]
Such an overthrow . . . I have authored.
Chapman.
2.
To tell; to say; to declare. [Obs.]
More of him I dare not author.
Massinger.
Au"thor (&add;"th&etilde;r), n. [OE. authour, autour, OF. autor, F. auteur, fr.
L. auctor, sometimes,
but erroneously, written
autor or author,
fr. augere to increase, to produce. See Auction, n.]
1. The beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an
originator.
Eternal King;
thee, Author of all being.
Milton.
2. One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler.
The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.
Johnson.
3. The editor of
a periodical.
[Obs.]
4. An informant. [Archaic]
Chaucer.
Hear it pronounced