Lewis & Short

auctor (incorrectly written autor or author), ōris, comm. [auctio], he that brings about the existence of any object, or promotes the increase or prosperity of it, whether he first originates it, or by his efforts gives greater permanence or continuance to it; to be differently translated according to the object, creator, maker, author, inventor, producer, father, founder, teacher, composer, cause, voucher, supporter, leader, head, etc. (syn.: conditor, origo, consiliarius, lator, suasor, princeps, dux).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Of persons, a progenitor, father, ancestor: L. Brutus, praeclarus auctor nobilitatis tuae, the founder, progenitor of your nobility, Cic. Tusc. 4, 1, 2: generis, Verg. A. 4, 365; so Ov. M. 4, 640, and Suet. Vit. 2: tu sanguinis ultimus auctor, Verg. A. 7, 49; so Ov. M. 12, 558, and 13, 142: tantae propaginis, id. F. 3, 157: originis, Suet. Ner. 1: gentis, id. Claud. 25: auctores parentes animarum, Vulg. Sap. 12, 6: auctore ab illo ducit originem, Hor. C. 3, 17, 5: Sive neglectum genus et nepotes Respicis auctor, id. ib. 1, 2, 36: mihi Tantalus auctor, Ov. M. 6, 172: auctores saxa fretumque tui, id. H. 10, 132: Juppiter e terrā genitam mentitur, ut auctor Desinat inquiri, id. M. 1, 615.
      Of animals, Col. 6, 27, 1.
    2. B. Of buildings, etc., founder, builder: Trojae Cynthius auctor, Verg. G. 3, 36: murorum Romulus auctor, Prop. 5, 6, 43 (augur, Müll.): auctor posuisset in oris Moenia, Ov. M. 15, 9: porticus auctoris Livia nomen habet, id. A. A. 1, 72: amphitheatri, Plin. 36, 15, 24, § 118: omnia sub titulo tantum suo ac sine ullā pristini auctoris memoriā, Suet. Dom. 5.
    3. C. Of works of art, a maker, artist: statua auctoris incerti, Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 93: apparuit summam artis securitatem auctori placaisse, id. praef. § 27.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. In gen., the originator, executor, performer, doer, cause, occasion of other things (freq. interchanged with actor): tametsi haud quaquam par gloriá sequitur scriptorem et auctorem rerum, tamen etc., Sall. C. 3, 2 Kritz (cf. without rerum: Suam quisque culpam auctores ad negotia transferunt, id. J. 1, 4): praeclari facinoris, Vell. 2, 120, 6: facti, Ov. M. 9, 206; Vell. 1, 8: cum perquirerent auctorem facti, Vulg. Jud. 6, 29: optimi statūs auctor, Suet. Aug. 28: honoris, Ov. M. 10, 214: vitae, Vulg. Act. 3, 15: salutis, ib. Heb. 2, 10: fidei, ib. ib. 12, 2: funeris, Ov. M. 10, 199: necis, id. ib. 8, 449; 9, 214: mortis, id. ib. 8, 493: vulneris, id. ib. 5, 133; 8, 418: plagae, id. ib. 3, 329: seditionis sectae, Vulg. Act. 24, 5.
      Also, in gen., one from whom any thing proceeds or comes: auctor in incerto est: jaculum de parte sinistrā Venit, i. e. the sender, Ov. M. 12, 419; so, teli, id. ib. 8, 349: muneris, the giver, id. ib. 2, 88; 5, 657, 7, 157 al.: meritorum, id. ib. 8, 108 al.
    2. B. An author of scientific or literary productions.
      1. 1. An investigator: non sordidus auctor Naturae verique, Hor. C. 1, 28, 14.
        And as imparting learning, a teacher: quamquam in antiquissimā philosophiā Cratippo auctore versaris, Cic. Off. 2, 2, 8: dicendi gravissimus auctor et magister Plato, id. Or. 3, 10: divini humanique juris auctor celeberrimus, Vell. 2, 26, 2: Servius Sulpicius, juris civilis auctor, Gell. 2, 10; Dig. 19, 1, 39; 40, 7, 36.
      2. 2. The author of a writing, a writer: ii quos nunc lectito auctores, Cic. Att. 12, 18: ingeniosus poëta et auctor valde bonus, id. Mur. 14: scripta auctori perniciosa suo, Ov. Tr. 5, 1, 68: Belli Alexandrini Africique et Hispaniensis incertus auctor est, Suet. Caes. 56; id. Aug. 31: sine auctore notissimi versus, i. e. anonymous verses, id. ib. 70; so id. Calig. 8; id. Dom. 8 al.
        Meton. of cause for effect, for a literary production, writing, work: in evolvendis utriusque linguae auctoribus, etc., Suet. Aug. 89.
        In partic., the author of historical works, an historian (with and without rerum): ego cautius posthac historiam attingam, te audiente, quem rerum Romanarum auctorem laudare possum religiosissimum, Cic. Brut. 11, 44; so, Matrem Antoniam non apud auctores rerum, non diurnā actorum scripturā reperio ullo insigni officio functam, Tac. A. 3, 3; 3, 30 (diff. from auctor rerum in II. A.): Polybius bonus auctor in primis, Cic. Off. 3, 32, 113; so Nep. Them. 10, 4; Liv. 4, 20; Tac. A. 5, 9; 14, 64 al.
        With historiae (eccl. Lat.): historiae congruit auctori, Vulg. 2 Macc. 2, 31.
        Hence, in gen., one that gives an account of something, a narrator, reporter, informant (orally or in writing): sibi insidias fieri: se id certis auctoribus comperisse, Cic. Att. 14, 8: celeberrimos auctores habeo tantam victoribus irreverentiam fuisse, ut, etc., Tac. H. 3, 51: criminis ficti auctor, i. e. nuntius, Ov. M. 7, 824: Non haec tibi nuntiat auctor Ambiguus, id. ib. 11, 666; 12, 58; 12, 61; 12, 532.
        Hence, auctorem esse, with acc. and inf., to relate, recount: Auctores sunt ter novenis punctis interfici hominem, Plin. 11, 21, 24, § 73: Fabius Rustiçus auctor est scriptos esse ad Caecinam Tuscum codicillos, Tac. A. 13, 20: Auctor est Julius Marathus ante paucos quam nasceretur menses prodigium Romae factum (esse) publice, etc., Suet. Aug. 94 et saep.
    3. C. One by whose influence, advice, command, etc., any thing is done, the cause, occasion, contriver, instigator, counsellor, adviser, promoter; constr. sometimes with ut, acc. and inf., or gen. gerund.: quid mihi es auctor (what do you counsel me?) huic ut mittam? Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 2; 4, 7, 70; id. Poen. 1, 3, 1: idne estis auctores mihi? Ter. Ad. 5, 8, 16: mihique ut absim, vehementer auctor est, Cic. Att. 15, 5: Gellium ipsis (philosophis) magno opere auctorem fuisse, ut controversiarum facerent modum, id. Leg. 1, 20, 53: ut propinqui de communi sententiā coërcerent, auctor fuit, Suet. Tib. 35; id. Claud. 25; id. Calig. 15: a me consilium petis, qui sim tibi auctor in Siciliāne subsidas, an proficiscare, Cic. Fam. 6, 8: ego quidem tibi non sim auctor, si Pompeius Italiam reliquit, te quoque profugere, Att. ap. Cic. Att. 9, 10: ne auctor armorum duxque deesset, Auct. B. G. 8, 47: auctor facinori non deerat, Liv. 2, 54: auctores Bibulo fuere tantundem pollicendi, Suet. Caes. 19: auctores restituendae tribuniciae potestatis, id. ib. 5; so id. Dom. 8: auctor singulis universisque conspirandi simul et ut … communem causam juvarent, id. Galb. 10 al.
      So freq. in the abl. absol.: me, te, eo auctore, at my, your, his instance, by my advice, command, etc.: non me quidem Faciet auctore, hodie ut illum decipiat, Plaut. Stich. 4, 2, 23: an paenitebat flagiti, te auctore quod fecisset Adulescens? Ter. Eun. 5, 6, 12: quare omnes istos me auctore deridete atque contemnite, Cic. de Or. 3, 14, 54: quia calida fomenta non proderant, frigidis curari coactus auctore Antonio Musā, Suet. Aug. 81; 96; id. Galb. 19; id. Vit. 2 al.: agis Carminibus grates et dis auctoribus horum, the promoters or authors of spells, Ov. M. 7, 148.
      1. 2. Esp., in political lang., t. t.
        1. a. Auctor legis.
          1. (α) One who proposes a law, a mover, proposer (very rare): quarum legum auctor fuerat, earum suasorem se haud dubium ferebat, Liv. 6, 36: Quid desperatius, qui ne ementiendo quidem potueris auctorem adumbrare meliorem, Cic. Dom. 30, 80.
          2. (β) One who advises the proposal of a law, and exerts all his influence to have it passed, a supporter (stronger than suasor; cf. Suet. Tib. 27: alium dicente, auctore eo Senatum se adīsse, verba mutare et pro auctore suasorem dicere coegit): isti rationi neque lator quisquam est inventus neque auctor umquam bonus, Cic. Leg. 3, 15, 34: cum ostenderem, si lex utilis plebi Romanae mihi videretur, auctorem me atque adjutorem futurum (esse), id. Agr. 2, 5; id. Att. 1, 19: quo auctore societatem cum Perseo junxerunt, Liv. 45, 31; Suet. Oth. 8; id. Vesp. 11 al.
            Sometimes in connection with suasor: atque hujus deditionis ipse Postumius suasor et auctor fuit, Cic. Off. 3, 30, 109: Nisi quis retinet, idem suasor auctorque consilii ero, Tac. H. 3, 2 al.
          3. (γ) Of a senate which accepts or adopts a proposition for a law, a confirmer, ratifier: nunc cum loquar apud senatores populi Romani, legum et judiciorum et juris auctores, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 67.
            Poet., in gen., a law-giver: animum ad civilia vertet Jura suum, legesque feret justissimus auctor, Ov. M. 15, 833; and of one who establishes conditions of peace: leges captis justissimus auctor imposuit, id. ib. 8, 101.
            Hence, auctores fieri, to approve, accept, confirm a law: cum de plebe consulem non accipiebat, patres ante auctores fieri coëgerit, Cic. Brut. 14, 55: Decreverunt ut, cum populus regem jussisset, id sic ratum esset, si patres auctores fierent, Liv. 1, 17; 1, 22; 2, 54; 2, 56; 6, 42; 8, 12 al.
        2. b. Auctor consilii publici, he who has the chief voice in the senate, a leader: hunc rei publicae rectorem et consilii publici auctorem esse habendum, Cic. de Or. 1, 48, 211; 3, 17, 63.
          Also absol.: regem Ariobarzanem, cujus salutem a senatu te auctore, commendatam habebam, by your influence, and the decree of the senate occasioned by it, Cic. Fam. 15, 4, 6; cf. Gron. ad Liv. 24, 43.
    4. D. One who is an exemplar, a model, pattern, type of any thing: Caecilius, malus auctor Latinitatis, Cic. Att. 7, 3, 10: nec litterarum Graecarum, nec philosophiae jam ullum auctorem requiro, id. Ac. 2, 2, 5; cf. Wopk. Lect. Tull. p. 34: unum cedo auctorem tui facti, unius profer exemplum, i. e. who has done a similar thing, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 26: Cato omnium virtutum auctor, id. Fin. 4, 16, 44 al.
    5. E. One that becomes security for something, a voucher, bail, surety, witness: id ita esse ut credas, rem tibi auctorem dabo, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 70: auctorem rumorem habere, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 19: fama nuntiabat te esse in Syriā; auctor erat nemo, id. Fam. 12, 4: non si mihi Juppiter auctor Spondeat, Verg. A. 5, 17: gravis quamvis magnae rei auctor, Liv. 1, 16: auctorem levem, nec satis fidum super tantā re Patres rati, id. 5, 15 fin.: urbs auspicato deis auctoribus in aeternum condita, under the guaranty of the gods, id. 28, 28.
      Also with acc. and inf.: auctores sumus tutam ibi majestatem Romani nominis fore, Liv. 2, 48.
  3. F. In judic. lang., t. t.
      1. 1. A seller, vender (inasmuch as he warrants the right of possession of the thing to be sold, and transfers it to the purchaser; sometimes the jurists make a distinction between auctor primus and auctor secundus; the former is the seller himself, the latter the bail or security whom the former brings, Dig. 21, 2, 4; cf. Salmas. Mod. Usur. pp. 728 and 733): quod a malo auctore emīssent, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 22: auctor fundi, id. Caecin. 10; Dig. 19, 1, 52: Inpero (auctor ego sum), ut tu me quoivis castrandum loces, Plaut. Aul. 2, 2, 73 Wagn.; id. Ep. 3, 2, 21; id. Curc. 4, 2, 12.
        Trop.: auctor beneficii populi Romani, Cic. Mur. 2.
      2. 2. A guardian, trustee (of women and minors): dos quam mulier nullo auctore dixisset, Cic. Caecin. 25: majores nostri nullam ne privatam quidem rem agere feminas sine auctore voluerunt, Liv. 34, 2: pupillus obligari tutori eo auctore non potest, Dig. 26, 8, 5.
      3. 3. In espousals, auctores are the witnesses of the marriage contract (parents, brothers, guardians, relatives, etc.): nubit genero socrus, nullis auspicibus, nullis auctoribus, Cic. Clu. 5.
  4. G. An agent, factor, spokesman, intercessor, champion: praeclarus iste auctor suae civitatis, Cic. Fl. 22: (Plancius) princeps inter suos … maximarum societatum auctor, plurimarum magister, id. Planc. 13, 22: meae salutis, id. Sest. 50, 107: doloris sui, querelarum, etc., id. Fl. 22 fin.
    Note: In class. Lat. auctor is also used as fem.: eas aves, quibus auctoribus etc., Cic. Div. 1, 15, 27: Et hostes aderant et (Theoxena) auctor mortis instabat, Liv. 40, 4, 15: auctor ego (Juno) audendi, Verg. A. 12, 159; Ov. M. 8, 108; id. F. 5, 192; 6, 709; id. H. 14, 110; 15, 3; Sen. Med. 968; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 29 Müll. The distinction which the grammarians, Serv. ad Verg. A. 12, 159, Prob. p. 1452 sq. P., and others make between auctor fem. and auctrix, that auctrix would refer more to the lit. signif. of the verb, augeo, while auctor fem. has more direct relation to the prevailing signif. of its noun, auctoritas, is unfounded.

autor, autōrĭtas, etc., v. auctor, etc.