officious Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
busy; meddlesome; meddling; interfering; busybodied.
- an interfering old woman
- bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself
- busy about other people's business

L. officiosus: cf.F. officieux. See Office.

Pertaining to, or being in accordance with, duty. R.
If there were any lie in the case, it could be no more than as officious and venial one. Note on Gen. xxvii. (Douay version).
Disposed to serve; kind; obliging. Archaic
Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries Officious. Milton.

They were tolerably well bred, very officious, humane, and hospitable. Burke.
Importunately interposing services; intermeddling in affairs in which one has no concern; meddlesome.
You are too officious In her behalf that scorns your services. Shak.
Syn. -- Impertinent; meddling. See Impertinent. -- Of*fi"cious*ly, adv. -- Of*fi"cious*ness, n.