01 n. That which a person does, either voluntarily or by appointment, for, or with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises fr…
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1.
That which a person does, either voluntarily or by appointment, for, or with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the relations of man to man; as, kind offices, pious offices.“I would I could do a good office between you.” — Shak.
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2.
A special duty, trust, charge, or position, conferred by authority and for a public purpose; a position of trust or authority; as, an executive or judical office; a municipal office.
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3.
A charge or trust, of a sacred nature, conferred by God himself; as, the office of a priest under the old dispensation, and that of the apostles in the new.“Inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” — Rom. xi. 13.
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4.
That which is performed, intended, or assigned to be done, by a particular thing, or that which anything is fitted to perform; a function; -- answering to duty in intelligent beings.“They [the eyes] resign their office and their light.” — Shak.“Hesperus, whose office is to bring Twilight upon the earth.” — Milton.“In this experiment the several intervals of the teeth of the comb do the office of so many prisms.” — Sir I. Newton.
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5.
The place where any kind of business or service for others is transacted; a building, suite of rooms, or room in which public officers or workers in any organization transact business; as, the register's office; a lawyer's office; the doctor's office; the Mayor's office.
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6.
The company or corporation, or persons collectively, whose place of business is in an office; as, I have notified the office.
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7.
The apartments or outhouses in which the domestics discharge the duties attached to the service of a house, as kitchens, pantries, stables, etc.[Eng.]“As for the offices, let them stand at distance.” — Bacon.
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8.
Any service other than that of ordination and the Mass; any prescribed religious service.(Eccl.)“This morning was read in the church, after the office was done, the declaration setting forth the late conspiracy against the king's person.” — Evelyn.
Phrases & compounds
Houses of office —
Same as def. 7 above.
Little office —
an office recited in honor of the Virgin Mary.
Office bearer —
an officer; one who has a specific office or duty to perform.
Office copy —
an authenticated or certified copy of a record, from the proper office. See Certified copies, under Copy.
Office-found —
the finding of an inquest of office. See under Inquest.
Office holder —
See Officeholder in the Vocabulary
Office hours —
the hours of the day during which business is transacted at an office{5}.
Office seeker —
a person who is attempting to get elected to an elected office, or to get an appointment to an appointive public office.