Au"thor (&add;"th&etilde;r), n. [OE.
authour, autour, OF. autor, F. auteur, fr. L.
auctor, sometimes, but erroneously, written autor or
author, fr. augere to increase, to produce. See
Auction, n.] 1. The beginner,
former, or first mover of anything; hence, the efficient cause of a thing;
a creator; an originator.
Eternal King; thee, Author of all being.
Milton.
2. One who composes or writes a book; a composer,
as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler.
The chief glory of every people arises from its
authors.
Johnson.
3. The editor of a periodical. [Obs.]
4. An informant. [Archaic]
Chaucer.
Au"thor (&add;"th&etilde;r), v. t.
1. To occasion; to originate. [Obs.]
Such an overthrow . . . I have authored.
Chapman.
2. To tell; to say; to declare. [Obs.]
More of him I dare not author.
Massinger.
