Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female author: "authoress" specifically denotes a woman who writes books, articles, or other literary works.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • She is a celebrated authoress of children's books.
  • The 19th-century authoress published her novels under a male pseudonym.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term "authoress" is now considered dated and often unnecessary in modern English. The gender-neutral term "author" is preferred for both men and women in contemporary usage. Using "authoress" can sometimes be seen as patronizing or emphasizing gender in a context where it is irrelevant.
  • Modern Style: She is a famous author. (Preferred)
  • Dated Style: She is a famous authoress. (Less common)

Variants and Related Words

• Author (n): A person who writes books or other literary works. This is the standard, gender-neutral term.
  • The author will be signing copies of her new novel.

Synonyms

• Writer: A person who writes, especially as a profession.
• Novelist: A person who writes novels.
• Wordsmith: A skilled user of words (often used for writers).

Important Note on Usage

• While "authoress" is grammatically correct and found in older texts, its use has significantly declined. It is recommended to use "author" for all genders in professional and academic writing. The suffix "-ess" (as in actress, waitress) is increasingly avoided in favor of neutral terms.

Noun

1. a woman author