The GENERAL CONTEXT of such use is:
authority:
I. Power to enforce obedience

1.

a. Power or right to enforce obedience; moral or legal supremacy; the right to command, or give an ultimate decision.
b. in authority: in a position of power; in possession of power over others.

2.

a. Derived or delegated power; conferred right or title; authorization.
b. with inf. Conferred right to do something.

3. Those in authority; the body or persons exercising power or command.

II. Power to influence action, opinion, belief.

4. Power to influence the conduct and actions of others; personal or practical influence.
5. Power over, or title to influence, the opinions of others; authoritative opinion; weight of judgement or opinion, intellectual influence.
6. Power to inspire belief, title to be believed; authoritative statement; weight of testimony. Sometimes weakened to: authorship, testimony.
7. The quotation or book acknowledged, or alleged, to settle a question of opinion or give conclusive testimony.
8.

a. The person whose opinion or testimony is accepted; the author of an accepted statement.
b. One whose opinion on or upon a subject is entitled to be accepted; an expert in any question.

9. comb., as authority-maker.