have it on authority Definition

authority
noun authorities

1a. The power or right to control or judge others, or to have the final say in something;

Thesaurus: authorization, jurisdiction, power, right.
1b. This kind of power when it is delegated to someone else.
2. A position which has such a power or right.
3. The person or people who have power, especially political or administrative.

Example: reported them to the authorities
Thesaurus: expert, specialist, veteran, professional.
Form: authorities (sometimes)
4. The ability to influence others, usually as a result of knowledge or expertise.
5. Well-informed confidence.

Example: Betty delivered her lecture with authority
6. An expert.

Example: an authority on birds
7. A passage in a book used to support a statement.

Idiom: have it on authority

To know about something from a reliable source.

Etymology: 14c: from French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor author.