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roceeding from, due authority; entitled to obedience, credit, or acceptance; determinate; commanding. The sacred functions of authoritative teaching. Barrow.

Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court. Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offe…

ripture maketh heretics. Tyndale. Where there is the barking of the belly, there no other commands will be heard, much less obeyed. Fuller.

A fortress or fortified town, on the frontier of a country, commanding an avenue of approach.

f a field marshal; the baton of a conductor in musical performances. He held the baton of command. Prescott.

To notify or call by a nod, or a motion of the head or hand; to intimate a command to. [Archaic] When gold and silver becks me to come on. Shak.

That which is willed or ordered; a command; a mandate; an injunction. To do his master's high behest. Sir W. Scott.

To command; to order. He behight those gates to be unbarred. Spenser.

A small building, or a part of a building, more or less open, constructed in a place commanding a fine prospect.

To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command. That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. Pope Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. Matt. xiv. 28 I was bid to pick up shells. D. Jerrold.

Command; order; a proclamation or notifying. "Do thou thy master's bidding." Shak.

T. More. As if therewith he meant to bluster all princes into a perfect obedience to his commands. Fuller.

A fortification commanding the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy, to insure the preservation and usefulness of the bridge, and prevent the enemy from crossing; a tête-de-pont.

A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence.

er cavalry, artillery, infantry, or mixed, consisting of two or more regiments, under the command of a brigadier general.

An officer in rank next above a colonel, and below a major general. He commands a brigade, and is sometimes called, by a shortening of his title, simple a brigadier.

Originally, one appointed to the command of a burg (fortress or castle); but the title afterward became hereditary, with a domain attached.

To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to call a servant. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain Shak.

eace." Milton. "With calm attention." Pope. Such calm old age as conscience pure And self-commanding hearts ensure. Keble.

A writ or process commanding the officer to take the body of the person named in it, that is, to arrest him; -- also called writ of capias.