Definition of: author

(ô′thər) noun
1. An originator; first cause; creator.
2. The original writer, as of a book; also, one who makes literary compositions his profession.
3. An author's writings collectively. See synonyms under CAUSE.
—v.t. Informal To be the author of; write. [<OF autor <L auctor originator, producer <augere increase]
—au′thor·ess noun fem.
—au·tho·ri·al (ô·thôr′ē·əl, ô·thō′rē-) adjective