| 释义 |
authority|ɔːˈθɒrɪtɪ, ɒ-, ə-|
Forms: 3–5 autorite, 4–6 autoryte, 5–6 auctorite, -itee, 5 awtoryte, 5–6 auctoryte, 5–7 autoritie, auctoritie, -ity, 6 auctorytye, -ety, awtoritee, aucthoritie, -ytye, -ity, authorite, 6–7 authoritie, 6–8 autority, 7 aucthorytie, 5– authority.
[a. F. autorité, early ad. L. auctōritas, -tātem, f. auctor: see author n. and -ity. The Fr. was also spelt auctorité from 12th to 16th c., and authorité in 16th, whence the successive Eng. forms.]
I. Power to enforce obedience.
1. a. Power or right to enforce obedience; moral or legal supremacy; the right to command, or give an ultimate decision.
1393Gower Conf. I. 257 The pope..Of his papall auctorite Hath made and yove the decre. 1480Caxton Chron. Eng. iii. (1520) 20/1 They chose another man the whiche sholde have more auctoryte..and they called hym dictator. 1590Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 176 He hath aucthoritie over all kinges and princes. 1598Barret Theor. Warres iv. iv. 113 Their Colours..represent the authoritie Royall. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. ii. 118 Proud man, Drest in a little briefe authoritie,..Plaies such phantastique tricks before high heauen, As makes the Angels weepe. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. xi. (1675) 233, I allow lawful Authority a Jurisdiction over my Actions, that I deny it over my Opinions. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 251 Authority is a Disease and Cure, Which Men can neither want, nor well endure. 1872Ruskin Eagle's Nest §94 If ever you find yourselves set in positions of authority.
b. in authority: in a position of power; in possession of power over others.
c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 108 Men that were in grete Auctorite. 1551–6Robinson tr. More's Utop. 15 Nowe placed in aucthorytye and called to honoure. 1611Bible Prov. xxix. 2 When the righteous are in authoritie, the people rejoyce. 1722Sewel tr. Hist. Quakers (1795) I. Pref. 12 Speaking to persons in authority. 1878Hopps Jesus x. 36 The people in authority..would try to stop him.
2. a. Derived or delegated power; conferred right or title; authorization.
(The relation to sense 1 is seen in ‘by the (king's) authority, by authority of the King.’)
c1375Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. 1869 I. 56 Reprovede him sharpli bi autorite of God. c1400Apol. Loll. 8 If he pronounce wiþout autorite..aȝennis þe lordis wille. 1483Rich. III in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 49 I. 153 Upon auctorite or commission yeven unto him. 1535Coverdale Mark xi. 28 By what auctorite dost thou these things, and who gaue the this auctorite. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. 6 To open a formal public correspondence..without the express authority of the government under which I live. 1831Carlyle Sart. Res. iii. vii, He carries in him an authority from God.
b. with inf. Conferred right to do something.
1535Coverdale Ezra vii. 24 Ye shall haue no auctorite to requyre taxinge & custome. 1559Bp. Scot in Strype Ann. Ref. I. App. vii. 13 By commission from him, prestes hathe aucthorytie to forgyve sin. 1719Young Revenge iv. i, Am I not your wife? Have I not just authority to know That heart? 1855Prescott Philip II Pref. 8, I also obtained the authority of Prince Metternich to inspect the Archives of the Empire. 1858Ld. St. Leonards Handy-bk. Prop. Law iv. 20 The authority to sell does not include a power to receive the purchase-money.
3. Those in authority; the body or persons exercising power or command. (Formerly in sing. = Government; a Local Sanitary Authority or similar body is also spoken of as ‘the authority.’)
1611Bible 1 Pet. iii. 22 Angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject vnto him. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. Ep. Ded. 1 The Supreme Autoritie of the Nation, the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England. 1682Luttrell Brief Rel. I. 233 Authority has thought fitt..to prosecute the offenders for the same. 1760T. Hutchinson Hist. Coll. Mass. Bay iii. (1765) 395 The authority treated him kindly, and sent him home. 1833I. Taylor Fanat. x. 456 The conduct of the authorities. 1859Mill Liberty 172 It is a proper office of public authority to guard against accidents. 1865Livingstone Zambesi xx. 403 The Mozambique authorities. 1870Statutes V (Tramways Act) 491 Orders authorising the construction of tramways..may be obtained by (1) The local authority of such district. 1880Sat. Rev. 25 Dec. 809 The actual authorities of the Post Office. 1909Westm. Gaz. 8 Sept. 2/3 The Port of London Authority is a thoroughly practical body of men. 1951Good Housek. Home Encycl. 189/2 It is usually possible to obtain the free services of one through the local Health Authority.
II. Power to influence action, opinion, belief.
4. Power to influence the conduct and actions of others; personal or practical influence.
c1410Hoccleve Mother of God 92 Syn thou art of swich auctoritee Lady pitious. c1449Pecock Repr. v. ix. 531 Hiȝe in wisdom and in auctorite and in fame. 1542Brinklow Complaynt i. (1874) 7 Them which beare any auctoryte..in the cowncel or Parlament. 1673Lady's Call. i. i §20 Such an autority there is in vertue, that where 'tis eminent, 'tis apt to controle all loose desires. 1705Addison Italy Ded., With your Lordship's Interest and Authority in England. 1792Anecd. W. Pitt III. xliv. 202 It is your duty, my Lords, as the grand hereditary council of the nation..to feel your own weight and authority. 1818–60Whately Commonpl. Bk. (1864) 125 The person, body, or book, in favour of whose decisions there is a certain presumption, is said to have, so far, authority.
5. Power over, or title to influence, the opinions of others; authoritative opinion; weight of judgement or opinion, intellectual influence.
c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 474 Preued..As wel by werk as by Auctoritee. 1481Caxton Myrr. iii. xii. 160 Good clerkes..of grete auctoryte. a1677Barrow Serm. (1683) II. viii. 119 The auctority of the ancients doth more prevail with me. 1724A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. Pref. 18 Is there anything that..stifles the light of truth, but autority? 1794Sullivan View Nat. II. 231 The proper way of reasoning from authority, that what seems true to some wise men, may upon that account be esteemed somewhat probable. 1865Mill Liberty ii. 21/2 He is either led by authority, or adopts..the side to which he feels most inclination.
6. Power to inspire belief, title to be believed; authoritative statement; weight of testimony. Sometimes weakened to: Authorship, testimony.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1239 Seynt Poule þat sagh Goddys pryvyte, He seyþ yn hys autoryte A feyre wurd vs for to save. 1494Fabyan i. i. 8 Therof is founde lytell auctoryte. 1586Thynne in Animadv. Introd. 73 Untill I may see good authoritie to disproove it. 1710Prideaux Orig. Tithes v. 253, I deny not Ingulph's autority to be good, but for his Copy there is his autority only. 1875Scrivener Lect. Grk. Test. 12, I have been recently informed on excellent authority. a1885Mod. Do not accept news on the authority of the evening papers.
7. The quotation or book acknowledged, or alleged, to settle a question of opinion or give conclusive testimony.
c1230Ancr. R. 78 Þen ilke autorite, þet..schal beon vre strencðe..aȝein þes deofles turnes. c1386Chaucer Friar's Prol. 12 Lete auctorités, in Goddes name, To preching and to scoles of clergie. a1535More Confut. Barnes viii. Wks. 770/2 Hys fyrst authorite be these words of saynte Austyne in hys fyftieth sermon. 1608Shakes. Per. iii. ii. 33 By turning o'er authorities. 1706Pope Lett. Wks. 1736 V. 55 To corroborate these observations by some great authorities..in Tully and Quintilian. 1876Green Short Hist. Pref. 6 Giving in detail the authorities for every statement.
8. a. The person whose opinion or testimony is accepted; the author of an accepted statement. b. One whose opinion on or upon a subject is entitled to be accepted; an expert in any question.
1665Glanvill Sceps. Sci. 77 To confront such celebrated Authorities. 1855Prescott Philip II, I. ii. vi. 210 Historians in a season of faction are not the best authorities. 1860R. Williams Ess. & Rev. 59 Egyptian authorities continue the reign of Menephthah later. 1867A. J. Ellis E.E. Pronunc. i. iii. 65 Wallis is the great authority for the fully developed pronunciation of the XVIIth century. 1871Blackie Four Phases i. 1 A great utilitarian authority. a1885Mod. Who, may I ask, is your authority for the statement? A. B. He is no authority!
9. Comb., as authority-maker.
1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. v. 893 These justice-makers and authority-makers pretend to derive their factitious justice from Pacts and Covenants. |