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Instant; ready; extemporaneous; as, an offhand speech; offhand excuses. -- adv.

others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the relations of man to man; as, kind offices, pious offices. I would I could do a good office between you. Shak.

Copper wire with a strong but light insulation, used in wiring houses, etc.

An officer, particularly one in the civil service; a placeman.

One who holds an office; a person lawfully invested with an office, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical; as, a church officer; a police officer; a staff officer. "I am an officer of state." Shak.

Of or pertaining to an office or public trust; as, official duties, or routine. That, in the official marks invested, you Anon do meet the senate. Shak.

The state of being official; a system of official government; also, adherence to office routine; red-tapism. Officialism may often drift into blunders. Smiles.

See Officialty.

By the proper officer; by virtue of the proper authority; in pursuance of the special powers vested in an officer or office; as, accounts or reports officially vertified or rendered; letters officially communicated; persons officially notified.

The charge, office, court, or jurisdiction of an official. Ayliffe.

The officer who officiates or performs an office, as the burial office. Shipley.

Of or pertaining to an office or an officer; official. [R.] Heylin.

To act as an officer in performing a duty; to transact the business of an office or public trust; to conduct a public service. Bp. Stillingfleet.

One who officiates. Tylor.

Used in a shop, or belonging to it. [Obs. or R.] Johnson.

ccordance 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).

p water and no need of a pilot; also, distance from the shore; as, the ship had ten miles offing; we saw a ship in the offing.

Shy or distant in manner. [Colloq. U.S.]

A pipe to let off water.

To reprint (as an excerpt); as, the articles of some magazines are offprinted from other magazines.