Etimology
From Middle English auctour, from Anglo-Norman autour, from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augeō (“to increase, originate”). The h, also found in Middle French autheur, is unetymological as there is no h in the original Latin spelling. The OED attributes the h to contamination by authentic. Doublet of auteur.
noun
author (plural authors)
The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition.
Someone who writes books for a living.
(obsolete, criminal law) Principal; the primary participant in a crime.
(obsolete) One's authority for something: an informant.
Examples
The copyright of any original writing belongs initially and properly to its author.
Have you read any Corinthian authors?
Eternal King; thee, Author of all being.
During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]
The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.
During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]
We hear […] of fratricidal murders, and stern reprisals on their authors.
Accomplices of a crime or an offence shall incur the same punishment as the authors of such a crime or offence, except when the law will have disposed otherwise.
Let me inform you en passant, Ladies, that those Villains the Heathens, as my Authors tell me, used to call our Saviour Chrestus, and not Christus, by way of Contempt and Derision […]
Related words
synonyms
(creator of a work): bookwright, creator, artist, subcreator, fabulator, writer
related terms
auteur
authority
authorization or authorisation
authorship
verb
author (third-person singular simple present authors, present participle authoring, simple past and past participle authored)
(chiefly US, sometimes proscribed) To create a work as its author.