officer
see also: Officer
Etymology

From Middle English officer, from Anglo-Norman officer, officier, from Old French officer, Late Latin officiarius, from Latin officium + -ārius.

Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈɒfɪsə/
    • (weak vowel) IPA: /ˈɒfəsə/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈɔfɪsɚ/
    • (weak vowel) IPA: /ˈɔfəsɚ/
  • (cot-caught) IPA: /ˈɑfɪsɚ/
    • (weak vowel) IPA: /ˈɑfəsɚ/
  • (dialectal, informal) IPA: /ˈɒfsə/
Noun

officer (plural officers)

  1. One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.
  2. A respectful term of address for an officer, especially a police officer.
    • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIX, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC ↗:
      Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.
  3. One who holds a public office.
  4. An agent or servant imparted with the ability, to some degree, to act on initiative.
  5. (colloquial, military) A commissioned officer.
Related terms Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

officer (officers, present participle officering; simple past and past participle officered)

  1. (transitive) To supply with officers.
  2. (transitive) To command as or like an officer.
    • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 31, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC ↗:
      Many of our journals are officered by Irish gentlemen, and their gallant brigade does the penning among us, as their ancestors used to transact the fighting in Europe; and engage under many a flag, to be good friends when the battle is over.
Synonyms Related terms
Officer
Proper noun
  1. Surname.



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