[f. AUTHOR sb. + -SHIP.]
1. Occupation or career as a writer of books.
1710. Shaftesb., Charac. (1870), I. 347. Patentees, with a sole commission of Authorship.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1815), 148. I saw none of the outward signs of authorship.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 113. The profession of literature, or, to speak more plainly, the trade of authorship.
1857. H. Reed, Lect. Brit. Poets, v. 160. The term of his authorship belongs … to the time of Queen Elizabeth.
2. The dignity or personality of an author; cf. lordship.
1782. Cowper, Lett., 23 Nov. My authorship is undoubtedly pleased when I hear that they are approved.
1853. Tupper, Heart, xvi. 155. Such … was not my authorship’s intention.
3. Literary origin or origination (of a writing).
1825. Ld. Cockburn, Mem., 318. To deny his authorship of them.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), II. xv. 75. A question … respecting the authorship of the review.
1834. H. N. Coleridge, Grk. Poets, 284. To doubt the individual authorship of the Iliad.
1870. Echo, 11 Nov. To hunt for a correct solution of the authorship of Junius.
4. gen. Origination or instigation of an action, state of affairs, etc. Cf. AUTHOR 1.
1884. Leeds Merc., 24 Oct., 4/4. He did not … expressly charge [him] … with the authorship of the riots at Aston Park.
