author

Meaning

Noun

1. The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition; or, one of the creators of a collaborative work.
2. Someone who writes books for a living.
3. (obsolete) Principal; the primary participant in a crime.
4. (obsolete) One's authority for something: an informant.

Verb

To create a work as its author.

Hyphenated as

au‧thor

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɔː.θə/

Etymology

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.