officiousadj.

Brit.

/əˈfɪʃəs/, U.S.

/əˈfɪʃəs/

Forms: late Middle English offycyous, 1500s officius, 1500s– officious.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin officiōsus.

Etymology: < classical Latin officiōsus dutiful, attentive, obliging, importunate < officium office n. + -ōsus -ous suffix. Compare Middle French, French officieux dutiful, obliging (1544; 1848 in sense 5), Italian uffizioso (14th cent., rare; 1831 in sense 5), Spanish officioso (1444), Portuguese officioso (17th cent.).

†1.

a. Of persons or their actions, etc.: active or zealous in the exercise of an office; dutiful. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [adjective]

faithfulc1384

officiousc1487

heedful1548

heedy1548

religious1567

unhurting1581

rigid1602

observant1608

conscionable1620

strictc1660

solid1880

c1487 J. Skelton tr. Diodorus Siculus Bibliotheca Historica v. 384 Dame Ceres..made to hym euydent exposicion how he sholde demene hym-self in thoffycyous admynystracion of thobseruauncis & sacrefyse.

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. ii. 200 Come, come, be euerie one officius, To make this banket.

1598 F. Bacon Hypocrites in Ess. (1862) 117 As to these others who are so officious towards God.

1641 R. Carpenter Experience, Hist., & Divinitie i. iv. 13 To stand like officious, and dutifull servants.

1730 J. Thomson Winter in Seasons 205 In vain for him th' officious wife prepares The fire fair-blazing, and the vestment warm.

a1770 M. Akenside To Cheerfulness in Odes i. vi The officious daughters pleas'd attend.

b. Of things: performing the proper office or function; serving the required purpose; efficacious. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [adjective]

frameeOE

goodeOE

mightyOE

vailanta1325

sicker1338

mightful1340

suffisant1340

virtuousa1387

effectivea1398

effectuala1398

worthya1398

availingc1420

effectuous?a1425

operant?a1425

substantialc1449

virtual?a1475

substantious1483

available1502

efficacious1528

energial1528

working1532

operatory1551

operatoriousa1555

stately1567

feckful1568

efficace?1572

shifty1585

operative1590

instrumental1601

efficable1607

speeding1612

effectuating1615

officious1618

availsome1619

prevailable1624

valid1651

perficient1659

affectuous1664

implemental1676

virtual1760

efficient1787

sufficient1831

slick1833

roadworthy1837

practician1863

positive1903

performant1977

1618 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. IV. N.T. i. 329 If twise in the day we do not present God with our solemne invocations, wee make the Gospell lesse officious, then the law.

a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry V ccii, in Poems (1878) IV. 151 The Stronger Squadron of the french fell in Vpon the goreing stakes;..'mongst these officious prongs Surpriz'd; their horse entangled, plunge their way Through many wounds, to Death.

1884 Ld. Selborne in Law Times Rep. 50 314/1 That interpretation which makes [the words] more officious with respect to the..purpose of the instrument is to be preferred.

2. Doing or ready to do kind offices; eager to serve, help, or please; attentive, obliging, kind. Now rare, except as passing into sense 3.Cf. officious lie n., officious falsity n. at Compounds.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective]

mildeOE

blitheOE

goodOE

well-willingOE

beina1200

goodfulc1275

blithefula1300

faira1300

benignc1320

gainc1330

sweetc1330

kinda1333

propicec1350

well-willeda1382

well-disposeda1393

well-hearteda1393

well-willinga1393

friendsomea1400

well-willya1400

charitablec1405

well-willed1417

good-heartedc1425

kindlyc1425

honeyed1435

propitious1440

affectuousc1441

willya1449

homelyc1450

benevolous1470

benigned1470

benevolent1482

favourousc1485

well-meaned1488

well-meaning1498

humanec1500

favourablec1503

affectionatea1516

well-mindedc1522

beneficial1526

propiciant1531

benignate1533

well-intendeda1535

beneficious1535

kind-hearted1535

well-given1535

affectioned1539

well-wishing1548

figgy?1549

good-meaning1549

affectedc1553

affectionated1561

well-natured1561

well-affected?1563

officious1565

well-inclined1569

good-natured1582

partial1587

graceful?1593

well-intentioned1598

beneficent1616

candid1633

kindlike1637

benefic1641

kindly-hearted1762

well-meant1765

benignanta1782

sweet-hearted1850

the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective] > willing to serve

officious1565

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > studiously careful or diligent > diligent in service

officious1565

diligent1566

attentivec1570

assiduous1725

1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. v. iv. f. 157 She..came to the table, shewed her selfe very officious in caruinge..to the bysshope and all the hole table.

1570 Mariage Witte & Sci. ii. i. sig. Bii Shew thy selfe officious and seruisable stil.

1679 Season. Adv. Protestants 6 The Peoples aversion they took away by degrees by their officious kind behaviour.

1783 S. Johnson On Death Levet in Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 695 Officious, innocent, sincere, Of ev'ry friendless name the friend.

1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 202 They were tolerably well-bred; very officious, humane, and hospitable.

1827 J. Keble Christian Year II. ci. 193 Feeling more bitterly alone The friends that press officious round.

1939 N. West Day of Locust xvi. 123 She was an officious, bustling woman with a face like a baked apple, soft and blotched.

1955 S. H. Adams Grandfather Stories 119 Moreover, I was naturally of an affording and officious nature, and it was a signal honor to be selected for a post of responsibility and hazard.

3. Unduly forward in offering one's services, or in taking business upon oneself; doing, or prone to do, more than is asked or required; interfering, intrusive. In later use esp.: inclined to assert authority in a self-important or pompous way, esp. with regard to petty or trivial matters. (Now the usual sense.)

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [adjective]

crousea1400

crank1499

cockish1551

forward1561

forthyc1565

forthputting?1577

perching1579

perk1579

perking?1584

officious1596

pratchant1596

putting-forth1621

obtrusive1652

petulcous1661

pushing1682

coxy1728

cocky1768

bumptious1801

furthy1808

upsetting1817

perky1820

self-asserting1821

protrusive1841

self-assertive1849

aggressive1855

self-assertory1867

perkisha1870

pushful1871

pushy1874

forritsome1894

chesty1900

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > [adjective] > officious

busy1340

pragmatical1593

officious1596

polypragmatical1597

superfluous1598

pragmaticc1612

superserviceablea1616

polypragmatic1616

stickling1642

over-officious1647

polypragmonetic1693

managinga1715

busybodied1798

busybodyish1851

pantopragmatic1860

polypragmonic1866

polypragmosynic1886

1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) ix. xlv. 215 Wolsey, that slye, officious, and too Lordly Cardnall.

1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode i. i. 15 He..knows not whom, without Some officious Sot has betray'd me.

1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) I. 163/2 He would not be so officious as to interpose.

1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. vi. 127 One of those officious, noisy little men, who are always ready to give you unasked information.

1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. v. 44 He glanced suspiciously at the officious stranger.

1883 Harper's Mag. June 100/1 He would do well to disembarrass himself of his too officious advisers.

1904 W. Churchill Crossing ii. i. 384 I waited for him in two streets until an officious person chanced along and threatened to take me before the Arcade.

1930 L. W. Meynell Camouflage vi. 83 Michael began to run. ‘You can't make this train, sir,’ an officious inspector warned him, trying to bar his way.

1959 A. Christie Cat among Pigeons ix. 108 That's what made her so officious. About finding fault, you know, and enforcing rules and finding out what people were doing that they shouldn't be doing.

1986 M. Hughes Dream Catcher i. 14 She mustn't seem unsure of what she was doing, or some officious person would be bound to come up and ask if they could help.

2001 Balance (Diabetes U.K.) Mar.–Apr. 27/1 It didn't take long for the officious dragon to declare that my diet was all wrong, that I needed to lose a stone in weight.

†4. Relating or belonging to an office or business; official, formal. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > duties > [adjective] > official

officious1602

functional1631

the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > ceremony or formality > [adjective] > formal as opposed to personal or private

publica1538

officious1602

functional1631

official1816

perfunctionary1838

1602 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. ix. sig. I4 Farewell, sweete Life: though thou be yet exil'd, Th'officious Court, enioy mee amply still.

1610 J. Dove Advt. Seminaries 16 He sheweth, that, as there is one adoration which is religious, belonging to God, so there is an other, onely officious, belonging to all ecclesiasticall rites and ceremonies.

1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 225 He put off officious Talk of Government or Politicks, with Jests.

1796 C. Burney Mem. Life Metastasio II. 264 To waste his precious moments in answering letters purely officious.

1852 J. H. Newman Disc. Univ. Educ. 221 The Sermons..of Protestant Divines in the seventeenth century, how often are they mere repertories of miscellaneous and officious learning.

5. In diplomats' use (as distinguished from official): not directly bearing on official business; having the character of a friendly communication or informal action on the part of a government or its official representatives; informal, unofficial. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > office > [adjective] > having extraneous relation to official matters

officious1852

1852 Ld. Palmerston in Mem. Ld. Malmesbury (1885) 238 When the diplomates call, do not be too reserved, but preface your observations by stating that what you say is officious.

1852 Ld. Palmerston in Mem. Ld. Malmesbury (1885) 226 (note) Old diplomatists must know the difference between an officious and an official conversation. The first is the free interchange of opinions between the two Ministers, and compromises neither; the latter would do so, and bind their Governments.

1866 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 July 9/1 ‘Feelers’, put out in the officious press.

1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Nov. 2/1 Every individual who receives [official] protection from a foreign Government becomes in his turn a centre of protection to his friends and dependants, and spreads this diluted form which is known as ‘officious’ protection at a rate of arithmetical progression.

1900 Westm. Gaz. 16 Aug. 2/1 We want the great European Powers to consent to be our guarantees with the Sultan. They would act in an officious, if not in an official capacity.

Compounds

† officious falsity n. Obsolete rare = officious lie n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > [noun] > a falsehood, lie > well-intentioned

white lie1567

officious lie1577

officious falsity1676

social lie1839

1676 G. Towerson Explic. Decalogue 520 Concerning officious falsities.

officious lie n. [after post-classical Latin mendacium officiosum (a420 in Jerome); compare Italian bugia ufficiosa (a1595), French mensonge officieux (c1660)] a lie told as an act of kindness to further another's interests.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > [noun] > a falsehood, lie > well-intentioned

white lie1567

officious lie1577

officious falsity1676

social lie1839

1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. iv. Cc.v/1 An officious lye, that is when I fitten or tell an vntruth for dueties sake, to the end that by my lye, I may keepe my neighbour harmelesse.

1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 283 Ignorantly zealous Christians, who were for Officious Lyes and Pious Frauds.

1788 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) VII. 42 Concerning officious lies, those that are spoken with a design to do good, there have been numerous controversies.

1882 Harper's Mag. Mar. 563/1 The officious lie, which is venial in principle, because it does not cause grave disorder.

1928 in J. Hagan Compend. Catechetical Instr. III. xi. 425/2 Q. What is an officious lie? A. An officious lie is a false statement to benefit oneself or another without injuring anyone else.

2003 New Catholic Encycl. (ed. 2) VIII. 900/2 Useful and harmless according to strict justice, the so-called ‘officious’ lie (mendacium officiosum) is intended to gain some good or to protect oneself or others from harm.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	officious
释义	officiousadj. Brit. /əˈfɪʃəs/, U.S. /əˈfɪʃəs/ Forms: late Middle English offycyous, 1500s officius, 1500s– officious. Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin officiōsus. Etymology: < classical Latin officiōsus dutiful, attentive, obliging, importunate < officium office n. + -ōsus -ous suffix. Compare Middle French, French officieux dutiful, obliging (1544; 1848 in sense 5), Italian uffizioso (14th cent., rare; 1831 in sense 5), Spanish officioso (1444), Portuguese officioso (17th cent.). †1. a. Of persons or their actions, etc.: active or zealous in the exercise of an office; dutiful. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [adjective] faithfulc1384 officiousc1487 heedful1548 heedy1548 religious1567 unhurting1581 rigid1602 observant1608 conscionable1620 strictc1660 solid1880 c1487 J. Skelton tr. Diodorus Siculus Bibliotheca Historica v. 384 Dame Ceres..made to hym euydent exposicion how he sholde demene hym-self in thoffycyous admynystracion of thobseruauncis & sacrefyse. 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. ii. 200 Come, come, be euerie one officius, To make this banket. View more context for this quotation 1598 F. Bacon Hypocrites in Ess. (1862) 117 As to these others who are so officious towards God. 1641 R. Carpenter Experience, Hist., & Divinitie i. iv. 13 To stand like officious, and dutifull servants. 1730 J. Thomson Winter in Seasons 205 In vain for him th' officious wife prepares The fire fair-blazing, and the vestment warm. a1770 M. Akenside To Cheerfulness in Odes i. vi The officious daughters pleas'd attend. b. Of things: performing the proper office or function; serving the required purpose; efficacious. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [adjective] frameeOE goodeOE mightyOE vailanta1325 sicker1338 mightful1340 suffisant1340 virtuousa1387 effectivea1398 effectuala1398 worthya1398 availingc1420 effectuous?a1425 operant?a1425 substantialc1449 virtual?a1475 substantious1483 available1502 efficacious1528 energial1528 working1532 operatory1551 operatoriousa1555 stately1567 feckful1568 efficace?1572 shifty1585 operative1590 instrumental1601 efficable1607 speeding1612 effectuating1615 officious1618 availsome1619 prevailable1624 valid1651 perficient1659 affectuous1664 implemental1676 virtual1760 efficient1787 sufficient1831 slick1833 roadworthy1837 practician1863 positive1903 performant1977 1618 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. IV. N.T. i. 329 If twise in the day we do not present God with our solemne invocations, wee make the Gospell lesse officious, then the law. a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry V ccii, in Poems (1878) IV. 151 The Stronger Squadron of the french fell in Vpon the goreing stakes;..'mongst these officious prongs Surpriz'd; their horse entangled, plunge their way Through many wounds, to Death. 1884 Ld. Selborne in Law Times Rep. 50 314/1 That interpretation which makes [the words] more officious with respect to the..purpose of the instrument is to be preferred. 2. Doing or ready to do kind offices; eager to serve, help, or please; attentive, obliging, kind. Now rare, except as passing into sense 3.Cf. officious lie n., officious falsity n. at Compounds. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] mildeOE blitheOE goodOE well-willingOE beina1200 goodfulc1275 blithefula1300 faira1300 benignc1320 gainc1330 sweetc1330 kinda1333 propicec1350 well-willeda1382 well-disposeda1393 well-hearteda1393 well-willinga1393 friendsomea1400 well-willya1400 charitablec1405 well-willed1417 good-heartedc1425 kindlyc1425 honeyed1435 propitious1440 affectuousc1441 willya1449 homelyc1450 benevolous1470 benigned1470 benevolent1482 favourousc1485 well-meaned1488 well-meaning1498 humanec1500 favourablec1503 affectionatea1516 well-mindedc1522 beneficial1526 propiciant1531 benignate1533 well-intendeda1535 beneficious1535 kind-hearted1535 well-given1535 affectioned1539 well-wishing1548 figgy?1549 good-meaning1549 affectedc1553 affectionated1561 well-natured1561 well-affected?1563 officious1565 well-inclined1569 good-natured1582 partial1587 graceful?1593 well-intentioned1598 beneficent1616 candid1633 kindlike1637 benefic1641 kindly-hearted1762 well-meant1765 benignanta1782 sweet-hearted1850 the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective] > willing to serve officious1565 the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > studiously careful or diligent > diligent in service officious1565 diligent1566 attentivec1570 assiduous1725 1565 T. Stapleton tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. v. iv. f. 157 She..came to the table, shewed her selfe very officious in caruinge..to the bysshope and all the hole table. 1570 Mariage Witte & Sci. ii. i. sig. Bii Shew thy selfe officious and seruisable stil. 1679 Season. Adv. Protestants 6 The Peoples aversion they took away by degrees by their officious kind behaviour. 1783 S. Johnson On Death Levet in Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 695 Officious, innocent, sincere, Of ev'ry friendless name the friend. 1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 202 They were tolerably well-bred; very officious, humane, and hospitable. View more context for this quotation 1827 J. Keble Christian Year II. ci. 193 Feeling more bitterly alone The friends that press officious round. 1939 N. West Day of Locust xvi. 123 She was an officious, bustling woman with a face like a baked apple, soft and blotched. 1955 S. H. Adams Grandfather Stories 119 Moreover, I was naturally of an affording and officious nature, and it was a signal honor to be selected for a post of responsibility and hazard. 3. Unduly forward in offering one's services, or in taking business upon oneself; doing, or prone to do, more than is asked or required; interfering, intrusive. In later use esp.: inclined to assert authority in a self-important or pompous way, esp. with regard to petty or trivial matters. (Now the usual sense.) ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > self-assertiveness > [adjective] crousea1400 crank1499 cockish1551 forward1561 forthyc1565 forthputting?1577 perching1579 perk1579 perking?1584 officious1596 pratchant1596 putting-forth1621 obtrusive1652 petulcous1661 pushing1682 coxy1728 cocky1768 bumptious1801 furthy1808 upsetting1817 perky1820 self-asserting1821 protrusive1841 self-assertive1849 aggressive1855 self-assertory1867 perkisha1870 pushful1871 pushy1874 forritsome1894 chesty1900 the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > [adjective] > officious busy1340 pragmatical1593 officious1596 polypragmatical1597 superfluous1598 pragmaticc1612 superserviceablea1616 polypragmatic1616 stickling1642 over-officious1647 polypragmonetic1693 managinga1715 busybodied1798 busybodyish1851 pantopragmatic1860 polypragmonic1866 polypragmosynic1886 1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) ix. xlv. 215 Wolsey, that slye, officious, and too Lordly Cardnall. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode i. i. 15 He..knows not whom, without Some officious Sot has betray'd me. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) I. 163/2 He would not be so officious as to interpose. 1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. vi. 127 One of those officious, noisy little men, who are always ready to give you unasked information. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. v. 44 He glanced suspiciously at the officious stranger. 1883 Harper's Mag. June 100/1 He would do well to disembarrass himself of his too officious advisers. 1904 W. Churchill Crossing ii. i. 384 I waited for him in two streets until an officious person chanced along and threatened to take me before the Arcade. 1930 L. W. Meynell Camouflage vi. 83 Michael began to run. ‘You can't make this train, sir,’ an officious inspector warned him, trying to bar his way. 1959 A. Christie Cat among Pigeons ix. 108 That's what made her so officious. About finding fault, you know, and enforcing rules and finding out what people were doing that they shouldn't be doing. 1986 M. Hughes Dream Catcher i. 14 She mustn't seem unsure of what she was doing, or some officious person would be bound to come up and ask if they could help. 2001 Balance (Diabetes U.K.) Mar.–Apr. 27/1 It didn't take long for the officious dragon to declare that my diet was all wrong, that I needed to lose a stone in weight. †4. Relating or belonging to an office or business; official, formal. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > duties > [adjective] > official officious1602 functional1631 the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > ceremony or formality > [adjective] > formal as opposed to personal or private publica1538 officious1602 functional1631 official1816 perfunctionary1838 1602 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. ix. sig. I4 Farewell, sweete Life: though thou be yet exil'd, Th'officious Court, enioy mee amply still. View more context for this quotation 1610 J. Dove Advt. Seminaries 16 He sheweth, that, as there is one adoration which is religious, belonging to God, so there is an other, onely officious, belonging to all ecclesiasticall rites and ceremonies. 1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 225 He put off officious Talk of Government or Politicks, with Jests. 1796 C. Burney Mem. Life Metastasio II. 264 To waste his precious moments in answering letters purely officious. 1852 J. H. Newman Disc. Univ. Educ. 221 The Sermons..of Protestant Divines in the seventeenth century, how often are they mere repertories of miscellaneous and officious learning. 5. In diplomats' use (as distinguished from official): not directly bearing on official business; having the character of a friendly communication or informal action on the part of a government or its official representatives; informal, unofficial. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > authority > office > [adjective] > having extraneous relation to official matters officious1852 1852 Ld. Palmerston in Mem. Ld. Malmesbury (1885) 238 When the diplomates call, do not be too reserved, but preface your observations by stating that what you say is officious. 1852 Ld. Palmerston in Mem. Ld. Malmesbury (1885) 226 (note) Old diplomatists must know the difference between an officious and an official conversation. The first is the free interchange of opinions between the two Ministers, and compromises neither; the latter would do so, and bind their Governments. 1866 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 July 9/1 ‘Feelers’, put out in the officious press. 1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Nov. 2/1 Every individual who receives [official] protection from a foreign Government becomes in his turn a centre of protection to his friends and dependants, and spreads this diluted form which is known as ‘officious’ protection at a rate of arithmetical progression. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 16 Aug. 2/1 We want the great European Powers to consent to be our guarantees with the Sultan. They would act in an officious, if not in an official capacity. Compounds † officious falsity n. Obsolete rare = officious lie n. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > [noun] > a falsehood, lie > well-intentioned white lie1567 officious lie1577 officious falsity1676 social lie1839 1676 G. Towerson Explic. Decalogue 520 Concerning officious falsities. officious lie n. [after post-classical Latin mendacium officiosum (a420 in Jerome); compare Italian bugia ufficiosa (a1595), French mensonge officieux (c1660)] a lie told as an act of kindness to further another's interests. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > [noun] > a falsehood, lie > well-intentioned white lie1567 officious lie1577 officious falsity1676 social lie1839 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. iv. Cc.v/1 An officious lye, that is when I fitten or tell an vntruth for dueties sake, to the end that by my lye, I may keepe my neighbour harmelesse. 1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iv. 283 Ignorantly zealous Christians, who were for Officious Lyes and Pious Frauds. 1788 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) VII. 42 Concerning officious lies, those that are spoken with a design to do good, there have been numerous controversies. 1882 Harper's Mag. Mar. 563/1 The officious lie, which is venial in principle, because it does not cause grave disorder. 1928 in J. Hagan Compend. Catechetical Instr. III. xi. 425/2 Q. What is an officious lie? A. An officious lie is a false statement to benefit oneself or another without injuring anyone else. 2003 New Catholic Encycl. (ed. 2) VIII. 900/2 Useful and harmless according to strict justice, the so-called ‘officious’ lie (mendacium officiosum) is intended to gain some good or to protect oneself or others from harm. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.c1487
随便看	to etc off the map to etc off-hand to etc offal to a bear to etc offence to to etc offhand to etc on a pedestal to etc on a person's ass to etc on all cylinders to etc on all fours to etc on by one's fingernails to etc on by one's fingertips to etc on deaf ears to etc on etc cylinders to etc on four cylinders to etc on ice to etc on lock to etc on margin to etc on maying to etc on one's merry way to etc on one's mind to etc on six cylinders to etc on the back foot to etc on the bad side of a person to etc on the defensive to etc on the good side of a person