See Also: officious(dictionary)
officious(dictionary)

officious (iou)



officious adjective. L15.
[from Latin officiosus, from officium OFFICE noun: see -OUS.]
a. Performing its office or function, serving its purpose, efficacious. rare. L15-L19.
b. Active or zealous in doing one's duty. L16-M18.
Doing or ready to do kind offices; intended to help or please; attentive, obliging, kind. M16-E19.
officious lie a lie told as an act of kindness to further another's interests.
Unduly forward in offering one's services, too inclined to do things personally; aggressive in asserting one's interest or authority; interfering with what is not one's concern; intrusive, meddlesome; domineering. L16.
L. W. Meynell An officious inspector warned him, trying to bar his way. M. Hughes Some officious person would..come up and ask if they could help.
Pertaining to an office or business, official; formal. E17-M19.
In diplomats' use: unofficial, informal. M19.
officiously adverb E17.
officiousness noun L16.