authorization English · revision 39924

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1472–3, Rolls of Parliament|origins=la auctor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˌɔːθəɹaɪˈzeɪʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|authorize|-ation]].^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016) The OED compares [[m|la-med|auctorisatio]], recorded in British sources from the 14th century, [[m|frm|authorisation]] and [[m|fr|autorisation]] (1593 or earlier);^(OED 2026) Etymonline notes an earlier form [[m|enm|auctorisation]] from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) The verb is [[m|enm|auctorisen]], from [[fro|autoriser]] and [[la-med|auctōrizō]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) formed on [[m|la|auctor|t=originator, author]], the source of [[author]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) The Anglo-Norman verb is recorded from about 1136, meaning to give authority to, to sanction and to accept as authentic.^(AND)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of authorizing, formal permission or approval, and the making of something legally valid: 1472–3, in the Rolls of Parliament.^(OED 2026) Merriam-Webster also dates it to the 15th century,^(MWU 2024) but Etymonline and Dictionary.com put it about 1600.^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Johnson (1755) defined it as "establishment by authority", quoting Matthew Hale on the authorization of laws.^(Johnson 1755) The sense "a document giving official permission" is recorded from 1799,^(OED 2026) and in United States politics the word has been used since 1891 for a law that sets up a government agency or programme, typically for a fixed time,^(OED 2026) and for a grant of power to the executive to spend money for named purposes.^(MWU 2024) The British spelling is ''authorisation''.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1472–3 – the action of authorizing; formal permission.^(OED 2026)

+ * late 15th century – ''auctorisation''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – Etymonline's date for ''authorization''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1799 – a document giving official permission.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1891 – (US politics) a law that sets up a government agency or programme.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Official [[permission]] to do something, or the act of giving it: ''Visitors need authorization to enter the laboratory.''^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # A [[document]] that gives official permission.^(OED 2026)

+ # (US politics) A [[law]] that sets up a government agency or programme, or that allows the executive to spend money on named purposes.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[deauthorization]]

+ * [[preauthorization]]

+ * [[reauthorization]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[author]]

+ * [[authority]]

+ * [[unauthorized]]

+ * [[authorize]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}