N. authority, influence, patronage, power, preponderance, credit, prestige, prerogative, jurisdiction, right, direction, government, divine right, dynastic rights, authoritativeness, absoluteness, absolutism, despotism, jus nocendi, jus divinum, mastery, mastership, masterdom, dictation, control, hold, grasp, grip, gripe, reach, iron sway, fangs, clutches, talons, rod of empire, commission, deputy, permission

V. authorize, warrant, dictate, be at the head of, hold office, be in office, fill an office, hold master, occupy master, a post master, be master, have the upper hand, get the upper hand, have the whip, get the whip, gain a hold upon, preponderate, dominate, rule the roost, boss, override, overrule, overawe, lord it over, hold in hand, keep under, make a puppet of, lead by the nose, turn round one's little finger, bend to one's will, hold one's own, wear the breeches, have the ball at one's feet, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's own hand, have on the hip, have under one's thumb, be master of the situation, take the lead, play first fiddle, set the fashion, give the law to, carry with a high hand, lay down the law, "ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm", rule with a rod of iron

Adj. at the head, dominant, paramount, supreme, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential, arbitrary, compulsory : stringent, at one's command, in one's power, in one's grasp, under control

Adv. in the name of, by the authority of, de par le roi, in virtue of, under the auspices of, in the hands of, at one's pleasure, by a dash if the pen, by a stroke of the pen, ex mero motu, ex cathedra

Phr. the gray mare the better horse, "every inch a king"

N. retention, retaining, keep, detention, # custody, tenacity, firm hold, grasp, gripe, grip, iron grip, fangs, teeth, claws, talons, nail, unguis, hook, tentacle, tenaculum, bond, clutches, tongs, forceps, pincers, nippers, pliers, vice, paw, hand, finger, wrist, fist, neaf, neif, bird in hand, captive

V. retain, keep, hold fast one's own, hold tight one's own, hold fast one's ground, hold tight one's ground, clinch, clench, clutch, grasp, gripe, hug, have a firm hold of, secure, withhold, detain, hold back, keep back, keep close, husband, reserve, have in stock, have on hand, keep in stock, entail, tie up, settle

Adj. retaining, retentive, tenacious, unforfeited, undeprived, undisposed, uncommunicated, incommunicable, inalienable, in mortmain, in strict settlement

Phr. uti possidetis