officious

== English == === Etymology === 15th century, from Middle English offycyous, from Latin officiōsus (“kindly”), from officium (“service”). === Pronunciation === Rhymes: -ɪʃəs === Adjective === officious (comparative more officious, superlative most officious) (obsolete) Obliging, attentive, eager to please. Offensively intrusive or interfering in offering advice and services. ==== Usage notes ==== Most published dictionaries do not agree with the notion that this word means official, bureaucratic, or punctilious (“being a stickler for formalities”) in modern use. It is not rare to encounter some instances of the word's use where the writer seems to have meant something like that. In choosing one's own words, it is worth knowing that some readers may view such use as catachrestic. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ====