Forms: 5 aucteuresse, 6–7 auctr-, authresse, 8 authouress, 7– authoress. Also 5 auctorice, 6 auctrice. [f. AUTHOR (in its successive forms) + -ESS. Not in Fr. The 15–16th c. auctorice, auctrice, ad. L. auctrix, -trīcem, is strictly a distinct formation: see -TRICE] A female author: a. an originator, causer; b. a leader; c. a mother, creatress; d. esp. a female literary composer. (Now used only when sex is purposely emphasized; otherwise, in all the senses, and especially the last, author is now used of both sexes.)
a. 1494. Fabyan, V. cxxvi. 107. Brunechield, that had been auctorice of so manyfold mischefes.
1523. State Papers Hen. VII., IV. 87. The oonly auctrice of ferme peax bitwene bothe realmes.
1612. Warner, Alb. Eng., VII. xxxvi. 176. Only thou art Auctresse of such ill.
1632. J. Hayward, Eromena, 32. She was the authresse of all the mischiefe.
1645. J. G[oodwin], Innoc. & Truth Tri., 63. If all the errors … should be charged upon the way of Presbyterie, as the Authoresse and Foundresse of them.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XXIV. 970. Others cursed the authoress of their woe.
b. 1583. Stanyhurst, Aeneis, I. (Arb.), 29. Of this valiant attempt a woomman is authresse.
1654. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 532. The Authoress of shedding so much Blood.
c. c. 1603. Chapman, Iliad, VI. 277. The great helm-mover thus received the auth’ress of his kind: ‘My royal mother.’
a. 1779. Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1491. Who, they say, is a female, and the supreme authoress of nature.
d. 1478. Caxton, Prou. Crist. de Pisan, Coloph., Of these sayynges Cristyne was aucteuresse.
1724. Swift, Corinna, Wks. 1755, III. II. 154. At twelve a wit and a coquette … Turns auth’ress, and is Curll’s for life.
1825. Southey, in Q. Rev., XXXI. 384. Upon this, the authoress has been misinformed.
1865. Reader, 4 March, 254. The authoress has read a deal and travelled a deal.
