author

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who writes a book, article, or other work.

   She is the author of several best-selling novels.

2. 2
   noun

   The person who creates or starts something.

   He was the author of the new education policy.

3. 3
   verb

   To write a book, article, or other work.

   She authored the report on climate change.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Author entered Middle English through Old French and derives ultimately from Latin augere, “to increase or originate.” It first meant someone who originated, invented, or caused something, and later narrowed to a person who composes a book or other written work.

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.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary