Definition of "civil authority" [civil authority]

• A person who exercises authority over civilian affairs (noun)

WordNet. Princeton University. 2010.

• "Williams left for England, committing the civil authority to lords justices and the military command to General Ginkel."
• "And sir it is a well known fact, as my colleague has said, that the military is strictly subordinated to civil authority — constituted by it and ameneneable to it for every abuse of its power."
• "Spain to extirpate the heresy: There is no ground in the condemnation and death of Priscillian for the charge made against the Church of having invoked the civil authority to punish heretics."