officium Latin · revision 2738

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɔfˈfɪ.ki.ũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ofˈfiː.t͡ʃi.um]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''officium''' ''n'' (genitive officiī or officī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a syncopated form of [[opificium]] “work-doing”, [[af|la|ops|faciō|-ium|t1=power, resources|t2=to do, make]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The TLL accepts this but notes that there is no parallel for the loss of ''i'' between a stop and ''f'', and Georges marks the derivation as uncertain.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) Donatus and Isidore of Seville derived it from [[efficio|alt=efficere]], from what each person ought to accomplish, and Ambrose from [[officio|alt=officere]], as doing what harms no one.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(Köbler 2010) where a slave asks why he is blamed if he does his [[m|en|duty]];^(OLD 2012) Terence uses it of acts of kindness.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a helpful act done in fulfilment of an obligation, a service or kindness, which Seneca distinguished from a [[m|en|benefit]] freely given; it extended to the last rites, to sexual favours and to the services of things.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was also an act of respect, the ceremonial visit of a client to his patron, the gathering of such visitors, and a ceremony such as a wedding.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Its central sense was duty: what one owes to others and to the State, allegiance (''in officio esse'', to stay loyal), and moral obligation in general, the subject of Cicero's ''De officiis'', where Georges takes it as the Greek ''kathēkon''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) From there it meant the function of a person or an organ, a task or commission, official business, and a post or [[m|en|office]], and in the Empire a department of officials.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin used it for divine service and the liturgy of the Hours,^(Stelten 1995)^(Etymonline) and medieval texts for an official, his district, a monastic charge, a household ministry, a retinue, a manorial charge, a judicial district, a craft and a guild.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010) The English word came through Anglo-French and Old French in the mid-13th century, and the Romance languages have French ''office'', Italian ''ufficio'' and Spanish ''oficio''.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of one's duty and function.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of kindly services.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero writes ''De officiis'' and uses it of duty and allegiance.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a military commission.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca distinguishes ''officium'' from ''beneficium''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it of a department of officials.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-13th century – [[en|office|alt=Office]] is borrowed into English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A service done out of obligation, a kindness, a favour; the last rites.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # An act of respect, a courtesy; a ceremonial visit; a ceremony.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|duty|alt=Duty]], obligation; allegiance; a sense of duty.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The function or job of a person or thing.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A task, a commission; official business.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A post, an [[m|en|office]]; a body of officials.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Divine service; the liturgy of the Hours.^(Stelten 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An official; his district; a monastic or household charge; a retinue; a craft; a guild.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[officiālis]]

+ * [[officiōsus]]

+ * [[officiperda]]

+ * [[officiāliter]]

+ * [[officīna]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ops]]

+ * [[opifex]]

+ * [[en|office]]

+ * [[en|official]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein explains ''officium'' as an employment undertaken from a sense of moral obligation, [[munus|alt=mūnus]] as one undertaken as a political charge.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}