Office

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: of=fice

CIDE DICTIONARY

Office, n. [F., fr. L. officium, for opificium; ops ability, wealth, help + facere to do or make. See Opulent, Fact.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I would I could do a good office between you."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "They [the eyes] resign their office and their light."  [1913 Webster]

  "Hesperus, whose office is to bring
  Twilight upon the earth."  [1913 Webster]

  "In this experiment the several intervals of the teeth of the comb do the office of so many prisms."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  The company or corporation, or persons collectively, whose place of business is in an office; as, I have notified the office.  [1913 Webster]
•  The apartments or outhouses in which the domestics discharge the duties attached to the service of a house, as kitchens, pantries, stables, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "As for the offices, let them stand at distance."  [1913 Webster]
•  Any service other than that of ordination and the Mass; any prescribed religious service.  [1913 Webster]

  "This morning was read in the church, after the office was done, the declaration setting forth the late conspiracy against the king's person."  [1913 Webster]

Holy office. Same as Inquisition, n., 3. -- Houses of office. Same as def. 7 above. Chaucer. -- Little office (R. C. Ch.), 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 (Law), an authenticated or certified copy of a record, from the proper office. See Certified copies, under Copy. Abbott. -- Office-found (Law), 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.

Office, v. t. 

 To perform, as the duties of an office; to discharge.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Office, n.
1 a room or building used as a place of business, esp. for clerical or administrative work.
2 a room or department or building for a particular kind of business (ticket office; post office).
3 the local centre of a large business (our London office).
4 US the consulting-room of a professional person.
5 a position with duties attached to it; a place of authority or trust or service, esp. of a public nature.
6 tenure of an official position, esp. that of a minister of State or of the party forming the Government (hold office; out of office for 13 years).
7 (Office) the quarters or staff or collective authority of a Government department etc. (Foreign Office).
8 a duty attaching to one's position; a task or function.
9 (usu. in pl.) a piece of kindness or attention; a service (esp. through the good offices of).
10 Eccl. a an authorized form of worship (Office for the Dead). b (in full divine office) the daily service of the Roman Catholic breviary (say the office).
11 a ceremonial duty.
12 (in pl.) Brit. the parts of a house devoted to household work, storage, etc.
13 sl. a hint or signal.

Idiom

the last offices rites due to the dead. office-bearer an official or officer. office block a large building designed to contain business offices. office boy (or girl) a young man (or woman) employed to do minor jobs in a business office. office hours the hours during which business is normally conducted. office of arms the College of Arms, or a similar body in another country. office-worker an employee in a business office.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L officium performance of a task (in med.L also office, divine service), f. opus work + facere fic- do

THESAURUS

Office

Mass, act of grace, act of kindness, advice, advocacy, aegis, agency, agentship, aid, alerting, appointment, area, assignment, assistance, atelier, auspices, authority, authorization, baccalaureate service, backhouse, backing, backup, bailiwick, bedtime prayer, benefaction, benefit, benevolence, benignity, berth, billet, bit, blessing, booking office, box office, branch, branch office, brevet, bureau, business, cabinet, camp meeting, capacity, care, caution, celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, chambers, chancellery, chancery, character, charge, chore, church, church service, closet, clue, comfort, commencement, commissariat, commission, commissioning, commitment, company, compline, connection, consignment, constablery, constablewick, constabulary, consulate, convocation, corporate headquarters, corporation, courtesy, crapper, cue, cure, delegated authority, delegation, den, department, deputation, devolution, devolvement, devotions, divine service, division, duty, ease, embassy, employment, empowerment, empty formality, end use, engagement, entrusting, entrustment, errand, establishment, evening devotions, evensong, executive office, executorship, exequatur, exercise, exercises, factorship, favor, firm, form, form of worship, formal, formality, formula, formulary, full power, function, gig, good deed, good offices, good turn, grace, graduation, graduation exercises, headquarters, help, holy rite, home office, house, immediate purpose, inaugural, inauguration, incumbency, indulgence, initiation, institution, intercession, intermediation, jakes, job, jurisdiction, kind deed, kind offices, kindly act, kindness, labor of love, lauds, legation, library, license, lieutenancy, liturgy, lob, loft, main office, mandate, matins, mediation, meeting, mercy, ministration, ministry, mission, mitzvah, mode of worship, monition, moonlighting, morning devotions, mummery, municipality, mystery, necessary, night song, none, nones, novena, obligation, observance, occupation, offices, opening, operation, operational purpose, order of worship, ordinance, organization, outhouse, part, passing word, patronage, performance, place, plenipotentiary power, pointer, position, post, power of attorney, power to act, practice, praise meeting, prayer, prayer meeting, prayers, prescribed form, prime, prime song, procuration, protection, province, proxy, public worship, purpose, purview, regency, regentship, relief, religious ceremony, remedy, rescue, responsibility, revival, revival meeting, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, ritual, ritual observance, rituality, role, room, sacrament, sacramental, sail loft, second job, secretariat, section, service, sext, sheriffalty, sheriffwick, shop, shrievalty, shtick, situation, solemnity, solemnization, spot, stacks, station, steer, studio, study, succor, support, task, tent meeting, tenure, therapy, thing, ticket office, tierce, tip, tip-off, trust, trusteeship, turn, ultimate purpose, undersong, use, vacancy, vesper, vespers, vicarious authority, vigils, warning, warrant, watch meeting, watch night, watch-night service, whisper, work, workplace, workroom

ROGET THESAURUS

Office

Business

N business, occupation, employment, pursuit, what one is doing, what one is about, affair, concern, matter, case, matter in hand, irons in the fire, thing to do, agendum, task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, mission, charge, care, duty, part, role, cue, province, function, lookout, department, capacity, sphere, orb, field, line, walk, walk of life, beat, round, routine, race, career, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, vocation, calling, profession, cloth, faculty, industry, art, industrial arts, craft, mystery, handicraft, trade, exercise, work, avocation, press of business, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally Adj, a business with an income at its heels, amoto quaeramus seria ludo, par negotiis neque supra.

VB pass one's time in, employ one's time in, spend one's time in, employ oneself in, employ oneself upon, occupy oneself with, concern oneself with, make it one's business, undertake, enter a profession, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, have to do with, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, drive a trade, carry on a trade, do a trade, transact a trade, carry on business, do business, transact business, keep a shop, ply one's task, ply one's trade, labor in one's vocation, pursue the even tenor of one's way, attend to business, attend to one's work, officiate, serve, act, act one's part, play one's part, do duty, serve the office of, discharge the office of, perform the office of, perform the duties of, perform the functions of, hold an office, fill an office, fill a place, fill a situation, hold a portfolio, hold a place, hold a situation, be about, be doing, be engaged in, be employed in, be occupied with, be at work on, have one's hands in, have in hand, have on one's hands, have on one's shoulders, bear the burden, have one's hands full, be in the hands of, be on the stocks, be on the anvil, pass through one's hands, Adj, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, Adv, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally.

Workshop

N workshop, workhouse, workplace, shop, place of business, manufactory, mill, plant, works, factory, cabinet, studio, office, branch office bureau, atelier, hive, hive of industry, nursery, hothouse, hotbed, kitchen, mint, forge, loom, dock, dockyard, alveary, armory, laboratory, lab, research institute, refinery, cannery, power plant, beauty parlor, beehive, bindery, forcing pit, nailery, usine, slip, yard, wharf, foundry, foundery, furnace, vineyard, crucible, alembic, caldron, matrix, at work, at the office, at the shop, working.

Mart

N mart, market, marketplace, fair, bazaar, staple, exchange, change, bourse, hall, guildhall, tollbooth, customhouse, Tattersall's, stall, booth, stand, newsstand, cart, wagon, wharf, office, chambers, countinghouse, bureau, counter, compter, shop, emporium, establishment, store, department store, general store, five and ten, variety store, co-op, finding store, grindery warehouse, grocery, supermarket, candy store, sweet shop, confectionery, bakery, greengrocer, delicatessen, bakeshop, butcher shop, fish store, farmers' market, mom and pop store, dairy, health food store, tobacco shop, tobacco store, tobacconists, cigar store, hardware store, jewelry shop, bookstore, liquor store, gun shop, rod and reel shop, furniture store, drugstore, chemist's, florist, flower shop, shoe store, stationer, stationer's, electronics shop, telephone store, music store, record shop, fur store, sporting goods store, video store, video rental store, lumber store, lumber yard, home improvements store, home improvement center, gas station, auto repair shop, auto dealer, used car dealer, mall, suburban mall, commons, pedestrian mall, shopping street, surplus store, army-navy surplus store, auction, flea market, yard sale, garage sale, pawn shop, antiques store, second-hand store, second time around shop, thrift shop, warehouse, wareroom, depot, interposit, entrepot, market-overt, real-estate broker, vending machine.

Agency

N agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play, interworking, interaction, procurement, causation, instrumentality, influence, action, modus operandi, quickening power, maintaining power, sustaining power, home stroke, operative, efficient, efficacious, practical, effectual, at work, on foot, acting, in operation, in force, in action, in play, in exercise, acted upon, wrought upon, by the agency of through, by means of, I myself must mix with action lest I wither by des.

Worship

N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.

Receptacle

N receptacle, inclosure, recipient, receiver, reservatory, compartment, cell, cellule, follicle, hole, corner, niche, recess, nook, crypt, stall, pigeonhole, cove, oriel, cave, capsule, vesicle, cyst, pod, calyx, cancelli, utricle, bladder, pericarp, udder, stomach, paunch, venter, ventricle, crop, craw, maw, gizzard, breadbasket, mouth, pocket, pouch, fob, sheath, scabbard, socket, bag, sac, sack, saccule, wallet, cardcase, scrip, poke, knit, knapsack, haversack, sachel, satchel, reticule, budget, net, ditty bag, ditty box, housewife, hussif, saddlebags, portfolio, quiver, chest, box, coffer, caddy, case, casket, pyx, pix, caisson, desk, bureau, reliquary, trunk, portmanteau, band-box, valise, grip, grip sack, skippet, vasculum, boot, imperial, vache, cage, manger, rack, vessel, vase, bushel, barrel, canister, jar, pottle, basket, pannier, buck-basket, hopper, maund, creel, cran, crate, cradle, bassinet, wisket, whisket, jardiniere, corbeille, hamper, dosser, dorser, tray, hod, scuttle, utensil, brazier, cuspidor, spittoon, cistern, vat, caldron, barrel, cask, drum, puncheon, keg, rundlet, tun, butt, cag, firkin, kilderkin, carboy, amphora, bottle, jar, decanter, ewer, cruse, caraffe, crock, kit, canteen, flagon, demijohn, flask, flasket, stoup, noggin, vial, phial, cruet, caster, urn, epergne, salver, patella, tazza, patera, pig gin, big gin, tyg, nipperkin, pocket pistol, tub, bucket, pail, skeel, pot, tankard, jug, pitcher, mug, pipkin, galipot, gallipot, matrass, receiver, retort, alembic, bolthead, capsule, can, kettle, bowl, basin, jorum, punch bowl, cup, goblet, chalice, tumbler, glass, rummer, horn, saucepan, skillet, posnet, tureen, beaker, flask, Erlenmeyer flask, Florence flask, round-bottom flask, graduated cylinder, test tube, culture tube, pipette, Pasteur pipette, disposable pipette, syringe, vial, carboy, vacuum flask, Petri dish, microtiter tray, centrifuge tube, bail, beaker, billy, canakin, catch basin, catch drain, chatti, lota, mussuk, schooner, spider, terrine, toby, urceus, plate, platter, dish, trencher, calabash, porringer, potager, saucer, pan, crucible, glassware, tableware, vitrics, compote, gravy boat, creamer, sugar bowl, butter dish, mug, pitcher, punch bowl, chafing dish, shovel, trowel, spoon, spatula, ladle, dipper, tablespoon, watch glass, thimble, closet, commode, cupboard, cellaret, chiffonniere, locker, bin, bunker, buffet, press, clothespress, safe, sideboard, drawer, chest of drawers, chest on chest, highboy, lowboy, till, scrutoire, secretary, secretaire, davenport, bookcase, cabinet, canterbury, escritoire, etagere, vargueno, vitrine, chamber, apartment, room, cabin, office, court, hall, atrium, suite of rooms, apartment, flat, story, saloon, salon, parlor, by-room, cubicle, presence chamber, sitting room, best room, keeping room, drawing room, reception room, state room, gallery, cabinet, closet, pew, box, boudoir, adytum, sanctum, bedroom, dormitory, refectory, dining room, salle-a-manger, nursery, schoolroom, library, study, studio, billiard room, smoking room, den, stateroom, tablinum, tenement, bath room, bathroom, toilet, lavatory, powder room, john, jakes, necessary, loo, men's room, ladies' room, rest room, (uncleanness), 653 attic, loft, garret, cockloft, clerestory, cellar, vault, hold, cockpit, cubbyhole, cook house, entre-sol, mezzanine floor, ground floor, rez-de-chaussee, basement, kitchen, pantry, bawarchi-khana, scullery, offices, storeroom, lumber room, dairy, laundry, coach house, garage, hangar, outhouse, penthouse, lean-to, portico, porch, stoop, stope, veranda, patio, lanai, terrace, deck, lobby, court, courtyard, hall, vestibule, corridor, passage, breezeway, ante room, ante chamber, lounge, piazza, veranda, conservatory, greenhouse, bower, arbor, summerhouse, alcove, grotto, hermitage, lodging, bed, carriage, capsular, saccular, sacculated, recipient, ventricular, cystic, vascular, vesicular, cellular, camerated, locular, multilocular, polygastric, marsupial, siliquose, siliquous.