auctōrĭtas | autōr- | authōr- (noun F) : (not nor ), , auctor, acc. to the different signiff. of that word
* In gen., a producing, production, invention, cause (very rare; syn.: auctoramentum, sententia, judicium, consilium, vis, pondus, favor, gratia): quod si exquiratur usque ab stirpe auctoritas (sc. rumoris),originator, inventor,Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 180: ejus facti qui sint principes et inventores, qui denique auctoritatis ejus et inventionis comprobatores,Cic. Inv. 1, 28, 43: utrum poëtae Stoicos depravārint, an Stoici poëtis dederint auctoritatem, non facile dixerim,id. N. D. 3, 38, 91.
* Esp.
* A view, opinion, judgment: errat vehementer, si quis in orationibus nostris auctoritates nostras consignatas se habere arbitratur,Cic. Clu. 50, 139: reliquum est, ut de Q. Catuli auctoritate et sententiā dicendum esse videatur,id. Imp. Pomp. 20; 22: Mihi quidem ex animo eximi non potest, esse deos, id tamen ipsum, quod mihi persuasum est auctoritate majorum, cur ita sit, nihil tu me doces,id. N. D. 3, 3, 7: plus apud me antiquorum auctoritas valet,id. Lael. 4, 13.
* An example, pattern, model: omnium superiorum auctoritatem repudiare,Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 19: memoriā digna juventuti rei publicae capessendae auctoritas disciplinaque,id. Sest. 6, 14: valuit auctoritas,id. Tusc. 2, 22, 53; so Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 93; 2, 5, 32: tu is es qui in disputando non tuum judicium sequare, sed auctoritati aliorum pareas,id. Leg. 1, 13, 36; id. Rosc. Am. 6, 16 al.
* A warrant, security for establishing a fact, assertion, etc., credibility: cum ea (justitia) sine prudentiā satis habeat auctoritatis,Cic. Off. 2, 9, 34: desinant putare, auctoritatem esse in eo testimonio, cujus auctor inventus est nemo,id. Fl. 22, 53: Quid vero habet auctoritatis furor iste, quem divinum vocatis?id. Div. 2, 54, 110: tollitur omnis auctoritas somniorum,id. ib. 2, 59, 123: cum ad vanitatem accessit auctoritas,id. Lael. 25, 94.
* Esp., in political lang., t. t.
* Right of possession (cf. auctor, II. F. 1.): lex usum et auctoritatem fundi jubet esse biennium,Cic. Caecin. 19, 54: usūs auctoritas fundi biennium est,id. Top. 4, 23; so id. Caecin. 26, 74; id. Har. Resp. 7; Lex Atin. ap. Gell. 17, 6; cf. Hugo, Rechtsgesch. p. 217 sq.—So in the laws of the XII. Tables: ADVERSVS. HOSTEM. AETERNA. AVCTORITAS., against a stranger the right of possession is perpetual (i. e. a stranger cannot, by prescription, obtain the right of possession to the property of a Roman), ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 37.
* In jurid. lang., a guaranty, security, Paul. Sent. 2, 17.
* Auctoritas populi, the popular will or decision: isti principes et sibi et ceteris populi universi auctoritati parendum esse fateantur,Cic. Imp. Pomp. 22; so, publica,Vell. 2, 62, 3; Dig. 1, 2, 2, § 4.
* Auctoritas collegii (pontificum), Liv. 34, 44; cf. Cic. Leg. 2, 19 and 21.
* Meton., the things which serve for the verification or establishment of a fact.
* A record, document: videt legationes, cum publicis auctoritatibus convenisse,Cic. Verr. 1, 3, 7: nihil putas valere in judiciis civitatum auctoritates ac litteras,id. ib. 2, 3, 62, § 146.
* The name of a person who is security for something, authority: cum auctoritates principum conjurationis colligeret,Cic. Sull. 13, 37: sed tu auctoritates contemnis, ratione pugnas,id. N. D. 3, 4, 9.—Hence for the names of persons present at the drawing up of a decree of the senate: quod in auctoritatibus praescriptis exstat,Cic. de Or. 3, 2, 5: Senatūs consultum, quod tibi misi, factum est auctoritatesque perscriptae, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8.

s. TLL