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Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary Powers
Division (II) Intersocial Volition
Section I. General Intersocial Volition

737. Authority.

   NOUN:AUTHORITY; influence, patronage, power, preponderance, credit, prestige, prerogative, jurisdiction; right (title) [See Dueness].
  divine right, dynastic rights, authoritativeness; royalty, regality, imperiality [rare]; absoluteness, absolutism, despotism, tyranny; jus nocendi [L.]; jus divinum [L.].
  COMMAND, empire, sway, rule; dominion, domination; sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty; kinghood, kingship; lordship, headship; chiefdom; patriarchy, patriarchate; leadership, hegemony; seigniory; mastery, mastership, masterdom; government (direction) [See Direction]; dictation, control.
  hold, grasp; grip, gripe; reach; iron sway (severity) [See Severity]; fangs, clutches, talons; rod of empire (scepter) [See Scepter].
  REIGN, régime [F.], dynasty; directorship, dictatorship; protectorate, protectorship; caliphate, pashalic, electorate; presidency, presidentship; administration; consulship, proconsulship; prefecture; seneschalship; magistrature, magistracy.
  [GOVERNMENTS] empire; monarchy; limited -, constitutional- monarchy; aristarchy, aristocracy; oligarchy, democracy, demagogy; heteronomy; republic; thearchy; diarchy, duarchy, duumvirate; triarchy, triumvirate; heterarchy [obs.]; autocracy, monocracy.
  representative government, constitutional government, vox populi [L.], home rule, dominion rule [Brit.], colonial government; self-government, autonomy, self-determination; republicanism, federalism; socialism; collectivism; pantisocracy; imperium in imperio [L.]; bureaucracy; beadledom, Bumbledom; stratocracy [rare], martial law; military -power, – government; feodality, feodatory, feudal system, feudalism.
  GYNOCRACY, gynarchy, gynecocracy or gynæcocracy, matriarchy, matriarchate, metrocracy; petticoat government.
  [VICARIOUS AUTHORITY] commission [See Commission]; deputy [See Deputy]; permission [See Permission].
  STATE, realm, commonwealth, country, power, polity, body politic, posse comitatus [L.]; toparchy.
  RULER; person in authority (master) [See Master]; judicature [See Jurisdiction]; cabinet (council) [See Council]; seat of -government, – authority; headquarters.
  usurper, tyrant, jack-in-office.
  [ACQUISITION OF AUTHORITY] accession; installation [See Commission]; usurpation.
   VERB:AUTHORIZE (permit) [See Permission]; warrant (right) [See Dueness]; dictate (order) [See Command]; have -, hold -, possess -, exercise -, exert -, grasp -, seize -, wrest -, wield- -authority &c. n.
  RULE, sway, command, control, administer; govern (direct) [See Direction]; lead, preside over, reign; possess -, be seated on -, occupy -, seize- the throne; sway -, wield- the scepter or sceptre; wear the crown.
  be at the head of &c. adj.; hold -, be in -, fill an- office; hold-, occupy- a post; be master [See Master].
  DOMINATE; have -, get- the -upper, – whip- hand; gain a hold upon, preponderate, dominate, rule the roast; boss [colloq., chiefly U. S.]; override, overrule, overawe; lord it over, hold in hand, keep under, make a puppet of, lead by the nose, turn round one’s little finger, bend to one’s will, hold one’s own, wear the breeches [colloq.]; have the ball at one’s feet, have it all one’s own way, have the game in one’s own hand, have on the hip, have under one’s thumb; be master of the situation; take the lead, play first fiddle, set the fashion; give the law to; carry with a high hand; lay down the law; “ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm” [adapted from Addison]; rule with a rod of iron (severity) [See Severity].
  ASSUME AUTHORITY &c. n.; ascend -, mount- the throne; take the reins, – into one’s hand; assume the reins of government; take -, assume the- command.
  BE GOVERNED BY, be in the power of; be under the -rule of, – dominion of.
   ADJECTIVE:RULING &c. v.; regnant, at the head, dominant, paramount, supreme, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential; gubernatorial; imperious; authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, bureaucratic, departmental, ex officio [L.], imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute; hegemonic or hegemonical; arbitrary; compulsory [See Compulsion]; stringent.
  at one’s command; in one’s power, in one’s grasp; under control; authorized (due) [See Dueness].
  SOVEREIGN; regal, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly; dynastic, imperial, imperialistic; princely; feudal; aristocratic, autocratic; oligarchic &c. n.; democratic, republican.
   ADVERB:in the name of, by the authority of, at one’s command, de par le Roi [F.], in virtue of; under the auspices of, in the hands of.
  at one’s pleasure; by a dash (or stroke) of the pen; at one’s nod; by lifting one’s finger; ex mero motu [L.]; ex cathedrâ [L.].
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. The gray mare the better horse.
  2. Every inch a king.—Lear
  3. A dog’s obeyed in office.—Lear
  4. Cada uno tiene su alguazil.
  5. Le Roi le veut.
  6. Regibus esse manus an nescis longas.
  7. Regnant populi.
  8. The demigod Authority.—Measure for Measure
  9. Off with his head! so much for Buckingham.—Cibber
  10. The right divine of kings to govern wrong.—Pope
  11. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.—Henry IV
  12. Government of the people, by the people, for the people.—Lincoln
  13. Quack remedies … are generally as noxious to the body politic as to the body corporal.—Roosevelt