officer English · revision 3305

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1338, Mannyng's Chronicle|origins=la officium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒf.ɪ.sə/, US /ˈɑː.fɪ.sɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|officer]],^(AHD 2000)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|officier|t=officer, official]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a learned borrowing [[der|la-med|officiārius|t=an officer]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la|officium|t=a service, a duty]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source of [[office]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) The verb is from the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A person holding a public, church or government office: before 1338, in Mannyng's ''Chronicle of England'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1325.^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates it to the early 14th century, originally of a high office.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the late 14th century an officer was also a servant or retainer in a great household, an official at court,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a military retainer from about 1378.^(Barnhart 1988) The modern military sense, one who holds a commission in the army or navy, is from about 1565.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The word was applied to petty officials of justice, such as bailiffs and sheriff's officers, from about 1440,^(OED 1989) and in American English to policemen from the 1880s;^(Etymonline) ''officer'' as a form of address to a police officer is from 1899.^(OED 1989) ''An officer and a gentleman'' is by 1762, the wording of British court-martial charges of conduct unbecoming both.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to lead or command as an officer”, is from 1670.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1338 – one who holds an office.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1378 – a military retainer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1384 – an agent, minister, in Wycliffe.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1440 – an officer of justice.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1565 – a commissioned military officer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1670 – verb, to command as an officer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1762 – ''an officer and a gentleman''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1880s – a policeman (US).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1899 – as a form of address to the police.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person holding a position of [[authority]] in an organization or government.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A person holding a [[commission]] in the armed forces.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A [[police]] officer.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A licensed master, mate or engineer on a merchant ship.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To provide with officers; to command as an officer.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[officerless]]

+ * [[officership]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[office]]

+ * [[official]]

+ * [[officiate]]

+ * [[officious]]

+ * [[oblige]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}