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Definition of Officious
1. Adjective. Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner. "Busy about other people's business"
Similar to: Intrusive
Derivative terms: Meddlesomeness, Officiousness
Definition of Officious
1. a. Pertaining to, or being in accordance with, duty.
Definition of Officious
1. Adjective. (obsolete) obliging, attentive, eager to please ¹
2. Adjective. Offensively intrusive or interfering ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Officious
1. [adj]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Officious
Literary usage of Officious
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. A Select Glossary of English Words Used Formerly in Senses Different from by Richard Chenevix Trench (1865)
"An ' officious' person is now a busy uninvited meddler in matters which do not
belong ... The more honourable use of ' officious' now only survives in the ..."
2. Judicial and Statutory Definitions of Words and Phrases by West Publishing Company (1904)
"The gist of the offense is that the intermeddling is unlawful, that it is officious,
and in a suit which in no way belongs to the ..."
3. The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper: Including the Series by Alexander Chalmers, Samuel Johnson (1810)
"officious MESSENGER: A TALE. MAN, of precarious science vain, Treats other
creatures with disdain ; Nor Pug nor Shock have common sense, Nor even Pol the ..."
4. Ainsworth's Magazine: A Miscellany of Romance, General Literature, & Art by William Harrison Ainsworth, George Cruikshank, Hablot Knight Browne (1849)
"AN officious man is one who in an awkward manner, and at unseasonable times,
seeks to show his skill in those good offices which are incidental to good ..."
5. The Dictionary of National Biography by Sidney Lee (1908)
"... Queen Elizabeth would say, outdid her expectation, Fortescue for integrity,
and Wal- singham for subtlety and officious services ' (State Worthies, ed. ..."
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