officer

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman officer, officier, from Old French, from Late Latin officiarius (“official”), from Latin officium (“office”) + -ārius (“-er”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɒfɪsə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔfɪsɚ/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈɑfɪsɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: of‧fi‧cer

Noun

officer (plural officers)

1. One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 19, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     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.

2. One who holds a public office.
3. An agent or servant imparted with the ability, to some degree, to act on initiative.
4. (colloquial, military) A commissioned officer.

Verb

officer (third-person singular simple present officers, present participle officering, simple past and past participle officered)

1. (transitive) To supply with officers.
2. (transitive) To command like an officer.

Alternative forms

• officier

Noun

officer m (oblique plural officers, nominative singular officers, nominative plural officer)

1. officer

References

• officer on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub