authority

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

I

n. expert, pundit, know-it-all (inf.), maven (inf.). See skill, knowledge, authority.

II

Right to govern

Nouns

1. (supremacy) authority, power, right, jurisdiction, title, prerogative; influence, patronage; prestige (See repute); command, control, rule, sway; dominion, domination, predominance, sovereignty, empire, supremacy; lordship, suzerainty, seigniory; the crown, the sovereign; the state, commonwealth, realm, body politic, polity; the ship of state; divine right, dynasticism, dynasty, regime; popular mandate; black power, gay power. Informal, the feds.

2. (symbols of authority) mastery, hold, grasp, grip; octopus, fangs, clutches, talons; rod of empire, scepter, throne. See superiority.

3. (offices of authority) administration, governance, ministration; direction, management, government, conduct, legislation, regulation, guidance; reins [of government]; supervision, superintendence, surveillance, oversight; control, charge; capital, seat [of government]. See legality.

4. (types of authority) government, administration, headquarters; autocracy, autarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, hierarchy, theocracy, patriarchy, plutocracy, democracy; monarchy, absolute monarchy, kingdom, chiefdom; caliphate, pashalik; proconsulship, consulship; prefecture, magistracy; directory, triumvirate, etc.; absolutism, despotism, tyranny, imperialism, czarism, dictatorship, authoritarianism, fascism, nazism, monolithic government, Führer Prinzip, boss rule; communism, Marxism, socialism, dictatorship of the proletariat, syndicalism, collectivism, People's Republic; anarchism, nihilism (See illegality); bureaucracy, red tape, officialdom; feudalism, feudality; gerontocracy; meritocracy; gynarchy, gynocracy, matriarchy; autonomy, home rule, representative government, republic, free enterprise (See freedom); constitutional government, constitutional or limited monarchy. Informal, brass, the man, big brother; petticoat government.

5. (positions of authority) directorship, presidency, premiership, senator-ship; chair, portfolio; stewardship, proctorship, jurisdiction. Informal, driver's seat, saddle.

6. (positions having authority over countries) sovereign, ruler, emperor, empress, crowned head, king, queen, prince, princess (See nobility); potentate, liege, suzerain, monarch; czar, tsar, kaiser; boss, dictator, Duce, Führer, despot, tyrant, pharaoh; judge, autocrat; president, vice president, chairperson, the chair, premier, prime or first minister; potentate, patriarch, chief, chieftain, sachem, ataman, hetman, caliph, sultan, pasha, emir, sheik; master; gray eminence.

7. (acts affecting authority) accession, succession, installation, coronation, crowning.

8. (those in authority over smaller forces) master, lord, padrone; employer; superior, director; mayor, majordomo, prefect, regent, chancellor, provost, magistrate, alcalde, burgomaster, seneschal, warden; commandant, commander, captain, skipper, commanding officer; governor, leader, higher-up; apparatchik. Informal, Simon Legree; mugwump, big white chief; men in suits. Slang, top banana, top dog, [head] honcho, whole cheese or show, the man, gaffer; capo, godfather; hammerman, chief cook and bottle washer.

9. (taking authority from another) usurpation, assumption, or arrogation of authority (See illegality); election, delegation, empowerment.

Verbs

1. have or wield authority; head, lead, command; dominate, control, boss; dictate, dispose, rule, govern, administer; preside; wear the crown, ascend the throne; have the upper or whip hand, wear the pants or trousers; rule the roost, throw one's weight around, ride roughshod over; lord it over, bend to one's will, give the law to, lay down the law; have under one's thumb, hold in the hollow or palm of one's hand. Informal, ride herd.

2. (run something) direct, manage, govern, conduct; order, prescribe, cut out work for; head, lead, boss; superintend, supervise, overlook, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for; administer, ministrate; have care or charge of, have or take the direction, take over, take charge, pull the strings or wires, call the shots or the tune; hold office, preside; take, occupy, or be in the chair, take over; pull the stroke oar; carry the ball; get a handle on.

3. be under, subject to, or in the power of (See subjection).

4. (give authority to) authorize, empower, put in authority (See permission).

5. usurp, assume, or arrogate authority, seize the throne; take charge or command, take control, take the helm; be elected or appointed; receive the reins of power; take things into one's own hands.

Adjectives

1. (in position ofauthority) ruling, regnant, at the head, in command, dominant, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential; paramount, supreme (See superiority); imperious; authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, ex officio, ex cathedra; imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute; arbitrary; dictatorial, tyrannical, bossy; regal, sovereign, royal, monarchical, kingly, queenly, imperial, princely; presidential, gubernatorial, mayoral, etc.; directing, managing, governing, etc.; hegemonic.

2. (being under authority) at one's command; in one's power; under one's control.

3. (of civic authority) governmental, civic; parapublic.

Adverbs

1. in authority, in charge, at the helm or head of, on the throne, in the hand of, in the saddle, on top, in the driver's seat, behind the wheel.

2. (under one's authority) at one's pleasure; by a stroke of the pen; imperiously, dictatorially; authoritatively, ex officio, ex cathedra; with a high hand.

Phrases — he who pays the piper calls the tune; might is right; in the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king; better red than dead; a good leader is always a good follower; you can't fight City Hall.

Quotations — Tyranny of the majority (Tocqueville), 'Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss (Shakespeare), Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown (Shakespeare), Power is the great aphrodisiac (Henry Kissinger), Thank heavens we do not get all the government that we are made to pay for (Milton Friedman), Communism is like prohibition, it's a good idea but it won't work (Will Rogers), Capitalism, it is said, is a system wherein man exploits man. And communism — is vice versa (Daniel Bell), Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few (G. B. Shaw), The best government is that which governs least ( John L. O'Sullivan), Big Brother is watching you (George Orwell), The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes (Tony Blair), Communism is the corruption of a dream of justice (Adlai Stevenson), The blind lead the blind. It's the democratic way (Henry Miller).

Antonyms, See subjection, obedience, disorder, servant.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Power based on right]

Syn. right, authorization, jurisdiction; see power 2 .

2. [The appearance of having authority, sense 1]

Syn. prestige, political influence, weight, self-assurance; see influence 2 .

3. [A person or persons vested with authority, sense 1; usually plural ]

Syn. officialdom, officials, judges, court, police, government, government agency, office-holders, administration, cabinet, executive, duly constituted representatives, ecclesiastics, the powers that be*; see also bureaucracy 1 .

4. [One who knows]

Syn. expert, scholar, critic, professional; see specialist .

See Synonym Study at influence , power .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. power jurisdiction, rule, license, charge, control, command, dominion, administration, influence. ''A halter.''—Ade-lard of Bath. ''Tyranny unless tempered by freedom.''—Stefan Zweig.

2. expert specialist, professional, scholar, connoisseur, *walking encyclopedia, trusted source.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. The right and power to command, decide, rule, or judge: command, control, domination, dominion, jurisdiction, mastery, might, power, prerogative, sovereignty, sway. Informal: say-so. See OVER. 2. A person or group having the right and power to command, decide, rule, or judge: official. Idioms: powers that be, the Man. See OVER. 3. Conferred power: faculty, mandate, right. Law: competence, competency. See ABILITY. 4. A person with a high degree of knowledge or skill in a particular field: ace, adept, dab hand, expert, master, past master, professional, proficient, wizard. Informal: whiz. Slang: cracker jack. Chiefly British: dab2. See ABILITY.