Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Job?

\Job\, n. [Prov. E. job, gob, n., a small piece of wood, v., to stab, strike; cf. E. gob, gobbet; perh. influenced by E. chop to cut off, to mince. See {Gob}.] 1. A sudden thrust or stab; a jab. 2. A piece of chance or occasional work; any definite work undertaken in gross for a fixed price; as, he did the job for a thousand dollars. 3. A public transaction done for private profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty, but really for private gain; a corrupt official business. 4. Any affair or event which affects one, whether fortunately or unfortunately. [Colloq.] 5. A situation or opportunity of work; as, he lost his job. [Colloq.] Note: Job is used adjectively to signify doing jobs, used for jobs, or let on hire to do jobs; as, job printer; job master; job horse; job wagon, etc. {By the job}, at a stipulated sum for the work, or for each piece of work done; -- distinguished from time work; as, the house was built by the job. {Job lot}, a quantity of goods, usually miscellaneous, sold out of the regular course of trade, at a certain price for the whole; as, these articles were included in a job lot. {Job master}, one who lest out horses and carriages for hire, as for family use. [Eng.] {Job printer}, one who does miscellaneous printing, esp. circulars, cards, billheads, etc. {Odd job}, miscellaneous work of a petty kind; occasional work, of various kinds, or for various people.
\Job\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Jobbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Jobbing}.] 1. To strike or stab with a pointed instrument. --L'Estrange. 2. To thrust in, as a pointed instrument. --Moxon. 3. To do or cause to be done by separate portions or lots; to sublet (work); as, to job a contract. 4. (Com.) To buy and sell, as a broker; to purchase of importers or manufacturers for the purpose of selling to retailers; as, to job goods. 5. To hire or let by the job or for a period of service; as, to job a carriage. --Thackeray.
\Job\, v. i. 1. To do chance work for hire; to work by the piece; to do petty work. Authors of all work, to job for the season. --Moore. 2. To seek private gain under pretense of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage. And judges job, and bishops bite the town. --Pope. 3. To carry on the business of a jobber in merchandise or stocks.
\Job\, n. The hero of the book of that name in the Old Testament; the typical patient man. {Job's comforter}. (a) A false friend; a tactless or malicious person who, under pretense of sympathy, insinuates rebukes. (b) A boil. [Colloq.] {Job's news}, bad news. --Carlyle. {Job's tears} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Coix Lacryma}), with hard, shining, pearly grains.