authority
n 1: the power or right to give orders or make decisions; "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests" [syn: authorization, authorisation, dominance, say-so]
2: (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others; "the authorities have issued a curfew" 3: an expert whose views are taken as definitive; "he is an authority on corporate law" 4: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities; "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence"; "she spoke with authority" [syn: assurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, sureness] 5: an administrative unit of government; "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority" [syn: agency, federal agency, government agency, bureau, office] 6: official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times" [syn: authorization, authorisation, sanction] 7: an authoritative written work; "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton"
