Dictionary

authoritah en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /əˈθɔɹətɑː/
• (US) audio

Etymology

An alteration of authority. Originated from the catchphrase, "Respect my authoritah!" by Eric Cartman in the American animated sitcom South Park. First used in the episode "Chickenlover" (S2E4), which aired on May 27, 1998.

Meanings

1. (US, countable, humorous, slang, uncountable) An authority (the power to enforce rules or give orders).
   • My normal reaction to authoritah is to bristle, but arguments can wait. 2018, Russ Linton, Ashes (Crimson Son), volume 3, →ISBN, unnumbered page:
   • Cartman: Ey! I am a cop, and you will respect my authoritah! 1998, South Park, "Chickenlover" (season 2, episode 4)
   • They may "defend" themselves individually, like trying to sabotage an acquaintance who is doing better financially, socially, etc. Or they may appeal to gubmint authoriTAH. 2010 February 10, “Re: Do economics and morals have anything in common?”, in alt.politics.libertarian (Usenet), retrieved 29 Nov 2021:
   • And thanks to Backbeat Books and the Hal Leonard Group for allowing me to indulge professionally in the type of thinking and topics that earned me disapproval from guidance counselors and other figures of "authoritah." 2013, Tony Sclafani, “Acknowledgments”, in The Grateful Dead FAQ, unnumbered page:

Forms

wikipedia: South Park · wikipedia: Eric Cartman · wikipedia: Chickenlover