0 to give official permission for something to happen, or to give someone official permission to do something:
Who authorized this expenditure?
[ + to infinitive ] I authorized my bank to pay her £3,000.
1 to give official permission for something to happen, or to give someone official permission to do something:
2 to give official permission for something to happen, or to give someone official permission to do something:
The prime minister authorized a pre-emptive air strike against the rebels.
The government has authorized the army to sell its surplus weapons.
Several unreliable dealers have been struck off our list of authorized suppliers.
If the latter view is correct, then reasonable but mistaken self-defense does not qualify as an example of legally authorized, private preemption.
The office authorized him to exercise the power of management over the local shoe market on the office's behalf.
It depends on how far participants feel authorized to or confident enough to take such a risk; we will come back to that shortly.