"held authority" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to have power or control over something or someone. Example: The CEO of the company held authority over all financial decisions.
"I would say we are not going to do it," he said simply — and, doubtless, if he held authority, he wouldn't.
The prime minister's duties have yet to be defined, but the appointment of Mr. Abbas -- provided he accepts it -- may ultimately force Mr. Arafat to begin ceding some of his tightly held authority.
The longtime campaign manager, Joe Trippi, according to several of his acolytes, was an inspirational but dysfunctional leader, who held authority close to his messy office, left problems to fester and never built a close enough relationship with Dr. Dean.
In his first Inaugural Address, which Goldfield aptly calls "a walking-on-eggshells speech," Lincoln tried to reassure slaveowners that he would not interfere with their peculiar institution where it already existed, but would only limit its expansion into territories over which the federal government held authority.
Researchers asked 49 volunteers to write about a time when they were in a position where they held authority over others, while another 49 were told to write about being in a submissive position.
In 162BC, Gaozu's son Emperor Wen clarified the agreement, suggesting the Xiongnu chanyu held authority north of the Wall and the Han emperor held authority south of it.
We can think of holding authority as in some way being the author of a portion of our children's experience.
The Federal Court of Australia also holds authority within the state.
Because they hold authority over students, teachers must be careful not to bully those who hold different views.
Even Denmark, which holds authority in Greenland in areas like migration and foreign policy, decided not to interfere.
Where men hold authority, women and girls find it difficult to get information and services, Unicef said.
