What is the Latin word for authority?

The usual Latin words for “authority” are auctōritās, arbitrium, potestās; also licet, imperium, testimōnium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“authority” in Latin

auctōritāscredibility, prestige, reputation, importance; influence, weight, personal weight; power, ability, authority arbitriumthe decision of an arbiter, arbitration; judgement, decision, opinion; discretion, liberal decision; arbitrary decision,potestāspower, ability; mastery, control; authority, jurisdiction licetto be allowed; to be permitted; although, even if imperiumThe empire, state, imperial government, realm, dominion.; The right or power to command or be in control; dominion.; Abs testimōniumtestimony, witness; evidence, proof

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

authority

auctoritas (influence; weight as an authority for anything; also “an authority,” e.g., for a statement): arbitrium (freedom to act according to one’s will): potestas (power): licentia (permission): imperium (cominand): testimonium: auctoritas testimonii (evidence). I have authority to do anything, mihi data est potentia or copia aliquid faciendi, alsoauctoritatem habeo alicujus rei faciendae. Public authority, publica auctoritas: by the authority of the Senate, (ex) auctoritate Senatus: to give a man authority to manage anything, alicujus arbitrio rem gerendam tradere or committere: to give anybody unlimited authority, infinitam licentiam alicui dare. He does it by his own authority, suo jure agit: by what authority? quo jure? let us reign with equal authority paribus auspiciis regamus. Absolute or despotic authority, potestas infinita; dorainatio: to have great authority in the state, in republica plurimum pollere: the authority of reason, dominatio rationis. The authority for a report, (rumoris) auctoritas (Plaut.). Anybody’s authority prevails, alicujus auctoritas valet: to disregard reason and authority, et rationem et auctoritatem relinquere (Cic.): they have received authority to give laws from the Senate, habent auctoritatem legumdandarum ab Senatu: anything seems to give authority to commit sin, aliquid videtur auctoritatem afferre peccaudi: to lessen anybody’s authority, alicujus auctoritatem deminuere, imminuere: to have authority (weight, influence), auctoritatem habere: to reject authority, auctoritatem repudiare: to overthrow, destroy, or ruin authority, labefactare or frangere auctoritatem: to despise authorities (i. e., the great names produced as authorities), auctoritates contcmnere. Great authority (= influence), auctoritas summa or amplissima: a person of great antliority, homo in quo summa est auctoritas atque amplitudo: to be of or have great authority, magna esse auctoritate; auctoritate florere or vigere: to be of small authority, tenui esse auctoritate: to obtain great authority by anything, magnam auctoritatem sibi aliqua re constituere: to increase authority, auctoritatem amplificare, augere: to do any thing by anybody’s authority, aliquo auctore, or alicujus nomine (as his substitute) facere aliquid.

“An authority,” auctor. Thucydides, a weighty authority, locuples auctor Thucydides.

“With authority,” pro imperio (jubere aliquid: of one holding an imperium).

Authorities = magistrates, Vid.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for authority?: The usual Latin words for “authority” are auctōritās, arbitrium, potestās; also licet, imperium, testimōnium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.