authorship
UK[ˈɔːθəʃɪp]US[ˈɔːθərʃɪp]
n
the state or fact of being the person who wrote a particular book, article, play, etc.
n
the activity or profession of writing books.
Morpheme Breakdown
author
ship
author
ship
Etymology
the word 'authorship' is a transparent compound formed within english. its first element, 'author', entered english via old french 'autor', tracing back to latin 'auctor', meaning originator or promoter, derived from the verb 'augere' (to increase, originate). the second element, '-ship', is a native english suffix from old english '-scipe', used to form abstract nouns indicating state, condition, or skill. the combination, emerging in the 16th century, logically denotes the state or condition of being an originator, specifically applied to the creation of written works. thus, the term elegantly encapsulates the concept of originating a text, linking the ancient idea of initiation and increase to the modern, specific domain of literary creation.
Analysis
Structure: author + ship
author (from latin 'auctor', meaning originator, promoter, from 'augere' to increase) + ship (from old english '-scipe', a suffix forming nouns denoting state, condition, or quality).
Examples
the book was published under a pseudonym, so the true authorship remained a mystery for decades.
she is moving from journalism into full-time authorship.
questions of authorship are central to the analysis of shakespeare's plays.