authorize [aw-thuh-rahyz] EXAMPLES|WORD ORIGIN verb (used with object), au·thor·ized, au·thor·iz·ing. to give authority or official power to; empower: to authorize an employee to sign purchase orders. to give authority for; formally sanction (an act or proceeding): Congress authorized the new tax on tobacco. to establish by authority or usage: an arrangement long authorized by etiquette books. to afford a ground for; warrant; justify. Liberaldictionary.com
Also especially British, au·thor·ise. Origin of authorize 1350–1400; earlier auctorize Medieval Latin auctōrizāre; replacing Middle English autorisen Middle French autoriser Medieval Latin See author, -ize Related formsau·thor·iz·a·ble, adjectiveau·thor·iz·er, nounde·au·thor·ize, verb (used with object), de·au·thor·ized, de·au·thor·iz·ing.mis·au·thor·ize, verb (used with object), mis·au·thor·ized, mis·au·thor·iz·ing.pre·au·thor·ize, verb (used with object), pre·au·thor·ized, pre·au·thor·iz·ing.re·au·thor·ize, verb (used with object), re·au·thor·ized, re·au·thor·iz·ing.self-au·thor·iz·ing, adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for authorise Contemporary Examples of authorise
I did not authorise, nor was I aware of, phone hacking under my editorship.
Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, and Fleet Street’s Elite Charged
Peter Jukes
July 24, 2012
Historical Examples of authorise
It was at the time when the Chamber was asked to authorise the issue of lottery stock.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
To authorise the Prince to accept the government of another State.
Frank Fox
I can write again by the parcel, if you authorise me to send it.
Harriet Martineau
Do you authorise me to speak—a little—as if I have an interest?
Henry James
And remember also that I do not authorise you in any way to resume this conversation.
Bram Stoker
British Dictionary definitions for authorise authorize authorise verb (tr) to confer authority upon (someone to do something); empower to permit (someone to do or be something) with official sanctiona dealer authorized by a manufacturer to retail his products Derived Formsauthorization or authorisation, nounauthorizer or authoriser, noun Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for authorise v.
chiefly British English spelling of authorize (q.v.); for suffix, see -ize. Related: Authorised; authorising.
authorize v.
“give formal approval to,” late 14c., autorisen, from Old French autoriser “authorize, give authority to” (12c.), from Medieval Latin auctorizare, from auctor (see author (n.)). Modern spelling from 16c. Related: Authorized; authorizing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper