“A right to command or to act; power exercised by a person in virtue of his office of trust.”—Webster. DDAEW 1.4
“That right or power to command action or compliance, or to determine belief or custom, expecting obedience from those under authority, and in turn, giving responsible account for the claim or right to power.”—Bernard Ramm, The Pattern of Religious Authority, p. 10. DDAEW 1.5