Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Office
Of′fice
,Noun.
1.
That which a person does, either voluntarily or by appointment, for, or with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the relations of man to man;
as, kind
. offices
, pious offices
I would I could do a good
office
between you. Shakespeare
2.
A special duty, trust, charge, or position, conferred by authority and for a public purpose; a position of trust or authority;
as, an executive or judical
office
; a municipal office
.3.
A charge or trust, of a sacred nature, conferred by God himself;
as, the
. office
of a priest under the old dispensation, and that of the apostles in the newInasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine
office
. Rom. xi. 13.
4.
That which is performed, intended, or assigned to be done, by a particular thing, or that which anything is fitted to perform; a function; – answering to duty in intelligent beings.
They [the eyes] resign their
office
and their light. Shakespeare
Hesperus, whose
Twilight upon the earth.
office
is to bringTwilight upon the earth.
Milton.
In this experiment the several intervals of the teeth of the comb do the
office
of so many prisms. Sir I. Newton.
6.
The company or corporation, or persons collectively, whose place of business is in an office;
as, I have notified the
. office
7.
pl.
The apartments or outhouses in which the domestics discharge the duties attached to the service of a house, as kitchens, pantries, stables, etc.
[Eng.]
As for the
offices
, let them stand at distance. Bacon.
8.
(Eccl.)
Any service other than that of ordination and the Mass; any prescribed religious service.
This morning was read in the church, after the
office
was done, the declaration setting forth the late conspiracy against the king’s person. Evelyn.
Ofˊfice
,Verb.
T.
To perform, as the duties of an office; to discharge.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Office
OF'FICE
,Noun.
1.
A particular duty, charge or trust conferred by public authority and for a public purpose; an employment undertaken by commission or authority from government or those who administer it. Thus we speak of the office of secretary of state, of treasurer, of a judge, of a sheriff, of a justice of the peace, &c. Offices are civil, judicial, ministerial, executive, legislative, political, municipal, diplomatic, military, ecclesiastical, &c.2.
A duty, charge or trust of a sacred nature, conferred by God himself; as the office of priest, in the Old Testament; and that of the apostles, in the New Testament.Insomuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office. Rom. 11.
3.
Duty or employment of a private nature; as the office of a midwife. Ex. 1.4.
That which is performed, intended or assigned to be done by a particular thing, or that which any thing is fitted to perform; answering to duty in intelligent beings. We enjoy health when the several organs of the body perform their respective offices.In this experiment, the several intervals of the teeth of the comb do the office of so many prisms.
5.
Business; particular employment.Hesperus, whose office is to bring twilight upon the earth.
6.
Act of good or ill voluntarily tendered; usually in a good sense; as kind offices; offices of pity; pious offices.7.
Act of worship.8.
Formulary of devotion.The Lord's prayer, the ten commandments and the creed, is a very good office for children if they are not fitted for more regular offices.
9.
A house or apartment in which public officers and others transact business; as the register's office; a lawyer's office.10.
In architecture, an apartment appropriated for the necessary business or occasions of a palace or nobleman's house. The word is used also for a building pertaining to a farm.11.
In the canon law, a benefice which has no jurisdiction annexed to it.12.
The person or persons entrusted with particular duties of a public nature.- This office [of quarter-master-general] not to have the disposal of public money, except small occasional sums.
OF'FICE
,Verb.
T.