authority
/ɔːˈθɒrətɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)
1
- mass noun the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience管辖权：
he had absolute authority over his subordinates
他对下属有绝对的管辖权
positions of authority
有实权的职位
a rebellion against those in authority.
对当权者的反抗。
1.1
- the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another（授予的）权, 权力：
often with infinitive military forces have the legal authority to arrest drug traffickers.军队有权逮捕毒贩。
1.2
- official permission; sanction（官方的）许可; 批准：
the money was spent without parliamentary authority.
使用那笔钱未经国会批准。
2
- （常作 authorities）a person or organization having power or control in a particular, especially political or administrative, sphere当局; 当权者（或机构）：
the health authorities
卫生部门
the Civil Aviation Authority
民航局
mass noun she wasn't used to dealing with authority.她不习惯与当权者打交道。
3
- mass noun the power to influence others, especially because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something威信, 影响力; 说服力：
he has the natural authority of one who is used to being obeyed
他天生就具有那种惯于让他人服从的威信
he spoke with authority on the subject.
他就这个题目作了令人信服的发言。
3.1
- the confidence resulting from personal expertise（个人专业素养带来的）信心：
he hit the ball with authority.
他击球时信心十足。
3.2
- count noun a person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an expert专家; （学术）权威：
he was an authority on the stock market.
他是股票市场方面的专家。
3.3
- count noun a book or other source able to supply reliable information or evidence, typically to settle a dispute权威的典籍; （信息、证据的）可靠来源。
短语
have something on good authority
- have ascertained something from a reliable source（据可靠来源）确认。
词源
Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor 'originator， promoter' （see AUTHOR）.