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Webster 1913 Edition


Officious

Of-fi′cious

,
Adj.
[L.
officiosus
: cf. F.
officieux
. See
Office
.]
1.
Pertaining to, or being in accordance with, duty.
[R.]
If there were any lie in the case, it could be no more than an
officious
and venial one.
Note on Gen. xxvii. (Douay version).
2.
Disposed to serve; kind; obliging.
[Archaic]
Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries
Officious
.
Milton.
They were tolerably well bred, very
officious
, humane, and hospitable.
Burke.
3.
Importunately interposing services; intermeddling in affairs in which one has no concern; meddlesome.
You are too
officious

In her behalf that scorns your services.
Shakespeare
Syn. – Impertinent; meddling. See
Impertinent
.
Of-fi′cious-ly
,
adv.
Of-fi′cious-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Officious

OFFI'CIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. officiosus.]
1.
Kind; obliging; doing kind offices.
Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries Officious.
2.
Excessively forward in kindness; importunately interposing services.
You are too officious in her behalf that scorns your services.
3.
Busy; intermeddling in affairs in which one has no concern.

Definition 2024


officious

officious

English

Adjective

officious (comparative more officious, superlative most officious)

  1. (obsolete) obliging, attentive, eager to please
  2. Offensively intrusive or interfering in offering advice and services

Derived terms

Translations