legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court.-government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the states; the military authorities.-the power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority.-that which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc.-testimony; witness.-a precedent; a decision of a court, an official declaration, or an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as a precedent.-a book containing such a statement or opinion, or the author of the book.-justification; warrant.