Dictionary entry

Officious

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Of‐fi″cious (?), a. [L. officiosus: cf. F. officieux. See Office.] 1. Pertaining to, or being in accordance with, duty.

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.

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. Shak.

Syn. — Impertinent; meddling. See Impertinent.

— Of‐fi″cious‐ly, adv. — Of‐fi″cious‐ness, n.