official English · revision 2569

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1314–15|origins=la officium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈfɪʃ.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|official]], [[bor|fro|official|t=law officer; bishop's representative]] and directly [[la-lat|officiālis|t=attendant to a magistrate, public official]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a noun use of the Latin adjective [[m|la|officiālis|t=of duty, service or office]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|la|officium|t=service, duty, office]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source of [[office]].^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) Etymonline analyses ''officium'' as literally “work-doing”, from [[m|la|opus|t=work]] and [[m|la|facere|t=to do]].^(Etymonline) The adjective is from Old French and Late Latin as well.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The presiding judge of a bishop's or archdeacon's court: 1314–15,^(OED 1989) or about 1330;^(Barnhart 1988) it occurs earlier as a surname, in 1252.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A household officer is from 1340, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) One holding public office is from 1555^(OED 1989) or the 1550s.^(Etymonline) The adjective meant “performing a service” from the late 14th century and “required by duty” from about 1400, both obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) “Pertaining to an office” is from about 1600^(Etymonline) or 1607,^(OED 1989) and “authorized by those in office” by 1854.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Official secrets'' is from 1889.^(OED 1989) A referee or umpire is an ''official'' in sports.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1252 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1314–15 – a church court judge.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1555 – a public officer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – adjective, of an office.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1854 – adjective, authorized.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – ''official secrets''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to an office or post of authority.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Authorized by a proper authority.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Holding office; serving in a public capacity.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Formal, befitting a person in authority.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who holds an office, especially in an institution or government.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[referee]] or [[umpire]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[officialdom]]

+ * [[officially]]

+ * [[preofficial]]

+ * [[subofficial]]

+ * [[officialism]]

+ * [[nonofficial]]

+ * [[underofficial]]

+ * [[officialese]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[office]]

+ * [[officer]]

+ * [[officiate]]

+ * [[officious]]

+ * [[opus]]

+ * [[fact]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}