From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
author
n 1: writes (books or stories or articles or the like)
professionally (for pay) [syn: writer]
2: someone who originates or causes or initiates something; "he
was the generator of several complaints" [syn:
generator, source]
v : be the author of; "She authored this play"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Author \Au"thor\ ([add]"th[~e]r), 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.
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Eternal King; thee, Author of all being. --Milton.
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2. One who composes or writes a book; a composer, as
distinguished from an editor, translator, or compiler.
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The chief glory of every people arises from its
authors. --Johnson.
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3. The editor of a periodical. [Obs.]
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4. An informant. [Archaic] --Chaucer.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Author \Au"thor\ ([add]"th[~e]r), v. t.
1. To occasion; to originate. [Obs.]
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Such an overthrow . . . I have authored. --Chapman.
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2. To tell; to say; to declare. [Obs.]
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More of him I dare not author. --Massinger.
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