Word of the Day: Authority

authority au-thor-i-ty / ə-thôr-ĭ-tē, ə-thŏr– ĭ-tē, ô-thôr-ĭ-tē, ô-thŏr– ĭ-tē noun (plural authorities) 1. the power or right to control, direct, command or judge others There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority and control: your mind and your mouth.  African Proverb 2. the person or persons having the power or right to control, command, prohibit or judge others It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law. Thomas Hobbes, 1588 – 1679 3. a position which allows the power to control, command or judge If you wish to know what a man is, place him in authority. Yugoslavian Proverb 4. the permission or delegation of power to control or command Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out. Ronald Reagan, 1911 – 2004 5. the ability to direct, influence or sway others Men of authority and influence may promote good morals. William Wilberforce, 1759 – 1833 6. an expert in a particular area A leading authority is anyone who has guessed right more than once. Frank A. Clark 1911 – 7. a citation from an expert or knowledgeable source The faith that stands on authority is not faith. Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803 – 1882 8. evidence or truthful declaration supporting a fact; witness; proof Men decide far more problems by hate, love, lust, rage, sorrow, joy, hope, fear, illusion or some other inward emotion, than by reality, authority, any legal standard, judicial precedent, or statute. Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106 BC – 43 BC 9. confidence gained through practice or experience Even while lying, you’ll be believed if you speak with authority. Anton Chekhov, 1860 – 1904 10. a company or other public board which has been delegated administrative power by a governmental unit The last job I applied for was to be a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority in 1957. Vernon Jordan, 1935 – 11. a precedent Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory. Leonardo da Vinci, 1452 – 1519