Emily Dickinson Lexicon

austerity, n. [see austere, adj.] (webplay: south wind; wine).

Asceticism; rigor; harsh discipline; severity of life; monastic mortification; lack of luxury; [fig.] sour taste; dry-flavored drink.

Austin, proper n. [clipping of Augustine, see August, adj.]

Austin Dickinson (1829-1895); first name of ED's older brother; husband of Susan Gilbert Dickinson; (see ED letters).

Austrian, proper n. [L. austr-, south; or, Med. L. Marchia austriaca, eastern boundary.] (webplay: wind).

Southern wind; storm front; warm moist air current; [word play] person from the eastern empire of Europe; citizen of the nation of Austria.

authentic, adj. [OFr < L. < Gk 'original,' 'of first hand authority,' 'a principal, master, autocrat'.]

True; genuine; reliable; trustworthy; worthy of acceptance; deserving belief; in accordance with fact.

author, n. [OFr. > L. augere, make grow, originate, promote, increase.]

Writer; creator of text; one who composes a book.

authority, n. [F. < L.; see author, n.] (webplay: creates, subjects).

1. Divine power; heavenly command.
2. Personal influence.

authorize (-d), v. [Fr. < L.; see author, n.] (webplay: place, suppress).

Ratify; allow; accept; give credence; legally sanction; duly appoint.

authorized, verbal adj. [see author, n.] (webplay: place, suppress).

Lawful; established; designated; [fig.] divinely ordained; granted by Deity.

autocratic, adj. [Fr. < Gk 'ruling by one's self,' 'absolute might, power, authority'.]

Omnipotent; sovereign; supreme; almighty; divine; godly.

auto da fe, n. [Port. < Sp. 'act of faith'.]

Death sentence; execution order; trial by fire; conviction by the Spanish Inquisition in medieval times; public burning of a heretic; solemn day for punishing the guilty and absolving the innocent.