[of.fice] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L officium service, duty, office, fr. opus work + facere to make, do--more at operate, do] (13c) 1 a: a special duty, charge, or position conferred by an exercise of governmental authority and for a public purpose: a position of authority to exercise a public function and to receive whatever emoluments may belong to it b: a postion of responsibility or some degree of executive authority
2. [ME, fr. OF, fr. LL officium, fr. L]: a prescribed form or service of worship; specif, cap: divine office
3: a religious or social ceremonial observance: rite
4. a: something that one ought to do or must do: an assigned or assumed duty, task, or role b: the proper or customary action of something: function c: something done for another: service
5: a place where a particular kind of business is transacted or a service is supplied: as a: a place in which the functions of a public officer are performed b: the directing headquarters of an enterprise or organization c: the place in which a professional person conducts business
6. pl, chiefly Brit: the apartments, attached buildings, or outhouses in which the activities attached to the service of a house are carried on
7. a: a major administrative unit in some governments "British Foreign Office" b: a subdivision of some government departments "Patent Office" syn see function