officious

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (1)

  1. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner“an interfering old woman”“bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself”“busy about other people's business”Synonyms: interferingmeddlesomemeddlingbusybusybodied
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Officious \Of*fi"cious\, a. [L. officiosus: cf. F. officieux. See Office.]

1.Pertaining to, or being in accordance with, duty. [R.] [1913 Webster]

If there were any lie in the case, it could be no more than an officious and venial one.— Note on Gen. xxvii. (Douay version).[1913 Webster]

2.Disposed to serve; kind; obliging. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries Officious.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
They were tolerably well bred, very officious, humane, and hospitable.— Burke.[1913 Webster]

3.Importunately interposing services; intermeddling in affairs in which one has no concern; meddlesome. [1913 Webster]

You are too officious In her behalf that scorns your services.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Impertinent; meddling. See Impertinent. [1913 Webster] -- Of*fi"cious*ly, adv. -- Of*fi"cious*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

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