n. 1. [ From the sounds of the first five letters. ] The Runic alphabet; -- so called from the first six letters f, u, þ (th), o (or a), r, c (=k). See rune. [ Also spelled futhark ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

☞ The spelling futharc represents most accurately the original values of these six Runic letters. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

☞The name is derived from the sounds of the first five letters of the runic alphabet, f, u, th, o, r, and c. The vowel sound of the fourth letter corresponded more closely to a in the earlier versions used in Scandinavian countries, and the earlier alphabet is therefore referred to as the futharc or futhark. The fifth rune had a sound like that of k, and in the Danish futhark the fifth character is that transliterated as k. Thus the runic alphabet is also called the futhork or futhark. The third rune had a sound and form resembling that of the Anglo-Saxon thorn, which represented the th sound at the beginning of the word thorn. The origins of the runic alphabet are obscure, but the earliest forms may have been invented around the second century A.D. in eastern Europe. The forms of some of the letters show a relation to the Latin or Greek alphabets, and the futhorc was presumably in part an adaptation of those alphabets to the sound of the Germanic tongues. An inscription of the futhark itself, an ordered list of the runes, was found on an object dated as early as the fifth century A.D. The Scandinavian futharc had 16 runes, but the futhorc used in Anglo-Saxon England had 31. The futhark was mostly used for writing on wood, for which reason the runes were comprised of only vertical and diagonal strokes. The degree of widespread use of the futharc is not known but it was probably used mostly for short messages or inscriptions on objects. Fewer than 10, 000 runic inscriptions, both on wood and stone, have been found. The number and forms of some of the runes varied over time and locality. R. I. Page, “Runes”. [ PJC ]

The letters are called Runes and the alphabet bears the name Futhorc from the first six letters. I. Taylor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eternal King; thee, Author of all being. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chief glory of every people arises from its authors. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The editor of a periodical. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An informant. [ Archaic ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To occasion; to originate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such an overthrow . . . I have authored. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tell; to say; to declare. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

More of him I dare not author. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female author. Glover. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word is not very much used, author being commonly applied to a female writer as well as to a male. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to an author. “The authorial &unr_;we.'” Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. 1. grant authorization or clearance for. Same as authorize.
Syn. -- authorize, pass, clear, permit officially. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Authorship. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty; -- of governments or rulers; as, an authoritarian regime
Syn. -- autocratic, dictatorial, despotic, tyrannical [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. 1 expecting unquestioning obedience: "he was imperious and dictatorial"; "the timid child of authoritarian parents"; "insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter"
Syn. -- dictatorial, overbearing [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 behaves like a tyrant.
Syn. -- dictator [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Having, or proceeding from, due authority; entitled to obedience, credit, or acceptance; determinate; commanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sacred functions of authoritative teaching. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having an air of authority; positive; dictatorial; peremptory; as, an authoritative tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mock authoritative manner of the one, and the insipid mirth of the other. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ly, adv. -- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit.
Syn. -- government, regime. [ WordNet 1.5 ]