authorize

[aw-thuh-rahyz] /ˈɔ θəˌraɪz/
verb (used with object), authorized, authorizing.
1.
to give authority or official power to; empower:
to authorize an employee to sign purchase orders.
2.
to give authority for; formally sanction (an act or proceeding):
Congress authorized the new tax on tobacco.
3.
to establish by authority or usage:
an arrangement long authorized by etiquette books.
4.
to afford a ground for; warrant; justify.
Also, especially British, authorise.
Origin
1350-1400; earlier auctorize < Medieval Latin auctōrizāre; replacing Middle English autorisen < Middle French autoriser < Medieval Latin See author, -ize
Related forms
authorizable, adjective
authorizer, noun
deauthorize, verb (used with object), deauthorized, deauthorizing.
misauthorize, verb (used with object), misauthorized, misauthorizing.
preauthorize, verb (used with object), preauthorized, preauthorizing.
reauthorize, verb (used with object), reauthorized, reauthorizing.
self-authorizing, adjective
Examples from the web for authorize
  • All virtue lies in a power of denying our own desires when reason does not authorize them.
  • In other words, it could authorize a trillion dollar coin.
  • Because it was hidden in a bill to authorize defense spending.
  • Oh yes, you also need the user to put all this together, install the plugin and authorize its usage of the hardware.
  • The eventual answer to this would necessarily be to authorize a biography based on the facts made accessible.
  • Of course, these laws and policies merely authorize such snooping.
  • Some carriers will customize it so that their phones can't install any applications other than the ones they authorize.
  • The company operates a point-of-sale network, which allows merchants to authorize checks with a single phone call.
  • However, you can de-authorize all of your purchases once a year.
  • Parliament will meet tomorrow to authorize a state funeral, the first held for a commoner in this century.
British Dictionary definitions for authorize

authorize

/ˈɔːθəˌraɪz/
verb (transitive)
1.
to confer authority upon (someone to do something); empower
2.
to permit (someone to do or be something) with official sanction: a dealer authorized by a manufacturer to retail his products
Derived Forms
authorization, authorisation, noun
authorizer, authoriser, noun
Word Origin and History for 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.