Authority

au·tho·ri·za·tion

: the act of authorizing : an instrument that authorizes : SANCTION

au·tho·rize

: to establish by or as if by authority : SANCTION <a custom authorized by time>
: to invest especially with legal authority : EMPOWER

au·thor·i·ty

from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor 13th century

: a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support
: the source from which the citation is drawn
: a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court)
: a decision taken as a precedent (3) : TESTIMONY
: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert

: power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior

: freedom granted by one in authority : RIGHT

3 a : persons in command; specifically : GOVERNMENT b : a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise <the transit authority>

4 a : GROUNDS, WARRANT <had excellent authority for believing the claim> b : convincing force <lent authority to the performance>

synonym see INFLUENCE, POWER