office English · revision 2306

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250 (Genesis and Exodus)|origins=la officium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒf.ɪs/, US /ˈɑː.fɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|office]] (earlier [[m|enm|offiz]]),^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|office]] (Anglo-French [[m|xno|ofice]])^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly [[bor|la|officium|t=service, duty, function]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) ''Officium'' is contracted from [[m|la|*opificium|t=work-doing]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(RHWU) from [[m|la|opus|t=work]] and the stem of [[m|la|facere|t=to do]].^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) In Medieval Latin it also meant a church service.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An official post or position with duties attached: about 1250, in ''The Story of Genesis and Exodus''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A duty or function, or a service done for someone, is recorded probably before 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and the phrase ''good offices'' keeps the sense “kindness, service”.^(OED 1989) About 1300 ''office'' also meant a church service or the set form of one,^(Etymonline) and it was used of church positions from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) “A place where business is done” appears in the late 14th century, in Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales'' (about 1395).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A government department is an ''office'' from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) and since 1727 the word has also been a euphemism for a privy.^(Etymonline) ''Office-holder'' is from 1818 and ''office hours'' from 1841.^(Etymonline) ''Officer'' dates from the 14th century,^(Hoad 1986) and ''officious'' first meant “eager to serve”, taking its negative sense at the end of the 16th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – an official post.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1300 – a duty or function.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – a church service.^(Etymonline)

+ * 14th century – ''officer''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * c. 1395 – a place of business (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – a government department.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1727 – a privy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1841 – ''office hours''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A room or building where business, clerical or professional work is done.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The staff who work in such a place.^(AHD)

+ # A position of authority or trust, especially in [[government]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A duty or function: ''the office of host''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A department or major division of government.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(usually plural)'' A service done for someone: ''through the good offices of a friend''.^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(Christianity)'' A set form of [[liturgy|alt=liturgical]] worship.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[officeless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[officeholder]]

+ * [[officer]]

+ * [[official]]

+ * [[officiate]]

+ * [[officious]]

+ * [[opus]]

+ * [[operate]]

+ * [[fact]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}