Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Office?

\Of"fice\, n. [F., fr. L. officium, for opificium; ops ability, wealth, holp + facere to do or make. See {Opulent}, {Fact}.] 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. --Shak. 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 new. Inasmuch 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. --Shak. Hesperus, whose office is to bring Twilight 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. 5. The place where a particular kind of business or service for others is transacted; a house or apartment in which public officers and others transact business; as, the register's office; a lawyer's office. 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. {Holy office}. Same as {Inquisition}, n., 3. {Houses of office}. Same as def. 7 above. --Chaucer. {Little office} (R.C.Ch.), an office recited in honor of the Virgin Mary. {Office bearer}, an officer; one who has a specific office or duty to perform. {Office copy} (Law), an authenticated or certified copy of a record, from the proper office. See {Certified copies}, under {Copy}. --Abbott. {Office-found} (Law), the finding of an inquest of office. See under {Inquest}. {Office holder}. See {Officeholder} in the Vocabulary
\Of`fice\, v. t. To perform, as the duties of an office; to discharge. [Obs.] --Shak.