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.

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.

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