in a general sense, signifies a right to command, and make one's self obeyed. In which sense we lay, the royal authority, the episcopal authority, the authority of a father, &c. It denotes also the testimony of an author, some apophthegm or sentence of an eminent person quoted in a discourse by way of proof.

Authority is represented, in painting, like a grave matron sitting in a chair of state, richly clothed in a garment embroidered with gold, holding in her right hand a sword, and in her left a sceptre. By her side is a double trophy of books and arms.