To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission; to authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide cases, civil or criminal; the attorney is empowered to sign an acquittance, and discharge the debtor
If someone is empowered to do something, they have the authority or power to do it. The army is now empowered to operate on a shoot-to-kill basis = authorize
To empower someone means to give them the means to achieve something, for example to become stronger or more successful. What I'm trying to do is to empower people, to give them ways to help them get well