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To throw or bring down from an elevation, place of honor and authority, or the like. Dismounted from his authority. Barrow.

ed, or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or rules prescribed by authority; -- applied to persons and acts. This disobedient spirit in the colonies. Burke. Disobedient unto the word of the Lord. 1 Kings xiii. 26.

obey (a superior or his commands, the laws, etc.); to transgress the commands of (one in authority); to violate, as an order; as, refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their Maker and the laws. Not to disobey her lord's behest. Tennyson.

Power or authority to dispose of, determine the condition of, control, etc., especially in the phrase at, or in, the disposal of. The sole and absolute disposal of him an his concerns. South.

or validity of; as, to dispute assertions or arguments. To seize goods under the disputed authority of writs of assistance. Bancroft.

s from the service and worship of an established church; especially, one who disputes the authority or tenets of the Church of England; a nonconformist. Dissenters from the establishment of their several countries. Burke. Robert Brown is said to have the first formal dissenter. Shipley.

y Will know what distance to the crown is due. Dryden. 'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld. Atterbury.

ality, or sincerity; want of confidence, faith, or reliance; as, distrust of one's power, authority, will, purposes, schemes, etc.

quiet rest. Spenser. The utmost which the discontented colonies could do, was to disturb authority. Burke.

A legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a court or other body having competent authority. This is properly a divorce, and called, technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii. "from the bond of matrimony."

Dominion; empire; authority.

iciliary visit (Law), a visit to a private dwelling, particularly for searching it, under authority.

Predominance; ascendency; authority.

The act of dominating; exercise of power in ruling; dominion; supremacy; authority; often, arbitrary or insolent sway. In such a people, the haugtiness of domination combines with the spirit of freedom. Burke.

Sovereign or supreme authority; the power of governing and controlling; independent right of possession, use, and control; sovereignty; supremacy. I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion. Dan. iv. 34. To choose between dominion or slavery. Jowett (Thucyd. ).…

ommand or ordinance by the sovereign power; the proclamation of a law made by an absolute authority, as if by the very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman emperors; the edicts of the French monarch. It stands as an edict in destiny. Shak. Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by Henry I…

To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission; to authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide cases, civil or criminal; the attorney is empowered to sign an acquittance, and discharge the debtor.

That which enforces, constraints, gives force, authority, or effect to; constraint; force applied. The rewards and punishment of another life, which the Almighty has established as the enforcements of his law. Locke.

To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge. High matter thou enjoin'st me. Milton. I am enjoined by oath to observe three things. Shak.

To seat on a throne; to exalt to the seat of royalty or of high authority; hence, to invest with sovereign authority or dignity. Beneath a sculptured arch he sits enthroned. Pope. It [mercy] is enthroned in the hearts of kings. Shak.