Authors

a card game for two or more persons that is played with a 52-card pack, the object being to take the largest number of tricks consisting of four cards of the same denomination.
a person who writes a novel, poem, essay, etc.; the composer of a literary work, as distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.
the literary production or productions of a writer:
to find a p-ssage in an author.
the maker of anything; creator; originator:
the author of a new tax plan.
computers. the writer of a software program, especially a hypertext or multimedia application.
to write; be the author of:
he auth-r-d a history of the civil war.
to originate; create a design for:
she auth-r-d a new system for teaching chemistry.
contemporary examples

in 1909, john remsburg compiled a list—strikingly bereft of characters from i, claudius—of 41 authors who never mention jesus.
so-called ‘biblical scholar’ says jesus a made-up myth candida moss, joel baden october 4, 2014

the authors found that “very hard exercise” was almost twice as effective as “moderate” exercise.
what happened when i replaced coffee with 30 seconds of exercise gregory ferenstein december 1, 2013

milford and gauvain are the authors of the forthcoming how not to marry the wrong guy: is he the one or should you run?
how not to marry the wrong man anne milford, jennifer gauvain february 12, 2010

seth stern and stephen wermiel, authors of a new biography of justice brennan, offer a few tips.
advice for a new justice seth stern, stephen wermiel october 4, 2010

on the third night, garzanti hosts its authors at a restaurant set in a former piedmont palace.
italy meets india over books francesca mari june 23, 2010

historical examples

let us, however, the children of a new era, learn from it the greatness of its authors!
the new york obelisk charles e. moldenke

it is not the purpose of the authors to discuss the subject pro or con.
flying machines w.j. jackman and thos. h. russell

the people had heard of his fame as an editor of half-forgotten roman authors.
the story of mankind hendrik van loon

do not let us spoil a great opportunity because of our sensitiveness as authors.
casanova’s homecoming arthur schnitzler

presumably the authors would have to acquiesce in such bowdlerizing.
three hours after marriage john gay

noun
a person who composes a book, article, or other written work related adjective auctorial
a person who writes books as a profession; writer
the writings of such a person: reviewing a postwar author
an originator or creator: the author of this plan
verb (transitive)
to write or originate
n.

c.1300, autor “father,” from old french auctor, acteor “author, originator, creator, instigator (12c., modern french auteur), from latin auctorem (nominative auctor) “enlarger, founder, master, leader,” literally “one who causes to grow,” agent noun from auctus, past participle of augere “to increase” (see augment). meaning “one who sets forth written statements” is from late 14c. the -t- changed to -th- 16c. on mistaken -ssumption of greek origin.

…[w]riting means revealing onesself to excess …. this is why one can never be alone enough when one writes, why even night is not night enough. … i have often thought that the best mode of life for me would be to sit in the innermost room of a sp-cious locked cellar with my writing things and a lamp. food would be brought and always put down far away from my room, outside the cellar’s outermost door. the walk to my food, in my dressing gown, through the vaulted cellars, would be my only exercise. i would then return to my table, eat slowly and with deliberation, then start writing again at once. and how i would write! from what depths i would drag it up! [franz kafka]

v.

1590s, from author (n.). revived 1940s, chiefly u.s. related: auth-r-d; authoring.