▪ I. officiate, v.
(əˈfɪʃɪeɪt)
[f. ppl. stem of med.L. officiāre to perform divine service, f. officium office.]
To discharge an office.
1. intr. To discharge the office of a priest or minister; to perform divine service, or any rite or ceremony, in an official capacity.
| 1641 Heylin Hist. Episc. ii. (1657) 446 There were many Parish Churches..as doth appeare by Epiphanius, who..tells us also who officiated in the same, as Presbyters. 1683 Brit. Spec. 34 The Druids officiated only in Groves of Oak. 1714–26 Gideon Guthrie Mem. (1900) 43 An earnest invitation..to oversee his only son and officiate in his family. 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales I. 211 note, Bonaparte had some difficulty in persuading Pope Pius VI to officiate at his coronation. 1876 J. Saunders Lion in Path i, The Earl kept a good old Protestant Chaplain to officiate. |
† b. trans. To perform, celebrate (a religious service or rite); to execute, exercise (a spiritual charge or function). Obs.
| 1631 Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 127 Deacons had the charge to..helpe the Priest in diuine Seruice (a place officiated now by our Parish Clerkes). 1648 E. Boughen Geree's Case Consc. 108 Which house..did duely officiate the Cure, by one of their own fraternity. 1717 Entertainer No. 8. 52 A Priest officiating the Common-Prayer. 1718 Cibber Non-juror v. 106 He..has..been seen..to officiate Publick Mass in the Church of Nostre Dame at Antwerp. |
c. To serve (a church). rare.
| 1894 Critic (U.S.) 7 July 8/1 ‘The Church of the Holy Sepulchre’, he continues, ‘is officiated by the Latins’. |
2. intr. To perform the duties attaching to an office or place, or any particular duty or service.
| 1683 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 91 To put him in Master of y⊇ Rolls, who doth Solemnly promise to officiate therein with care and Diligence. 1686 J. S. Hist. Monast. Convent. 156 Under him are ten Officers, that officiate in Buying up Corn. 1746–7 Act 20 Geo. II, c. 43 §40 The clerks or other officers officiating in the circuit courts. 1841 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. viii. 115 Lord Sidmouth retains his unmarried daughter, who officiated as his private secretary when he was Prime Minister. |
† b. Of a bodily organ, etc.: To perform its function, to act, operate. Obs.
| 1655 Culpepper, etc. Riverius x. iii. 288 Nature will grow dull by too much use of Clysters, and at length will never officiate that way. 1737 Bracken Farriery Impr. (1756) I. 53 To the End that when one Lobe of the Lungs is hurt by a Wound, the other..may officiate. |
† 3. trans. To perform the duties of (an office or place); to execute, fulfil, do (a duty or charge, business). Obs.
| 1652 Earl of Monmouth tr. Bentivoglio's Hist. Relat. 58 Her place is in many things officiated by her Niece the Lady Katherine Livia. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xviii. ¶2 A Man (nay, a Boy) might officiate all this Work. a 1704 T. Brown Praise Proverty Wks. 1730 I. 93 Officiating only the place of my brother Lucius. 1727 Philip Quarll 249 This lovely Animal was officiating the Charge it had of its own accord taken. |
† 4. a. trans. To minister, supply. b. intr. To minister, be subservient. Obs. rare.
| 1659 H. L'Estrange Alliance Div. Off. 217, I see not how the either precept or use thereof,..can at all officiat to the errour of Transubstantiation. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 22 The Firmament..And all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowle..meerly to officiate light Round this opacous Earth. |
Hence oˈfficiating vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1651 Baxter Inf. Bapt. 245 The Baptizers of Infants you scornfully call ‘Officiating Priests’. 1657–61 Heylin Hist. Ref. II. i. §11. 55 Of a set and appointed place, for the officiating of God's publick Service. 1868 Dickens Lett. 29 Jan. (1880) II. 348 The officiating minister..was brought in between two big stewards. |
▪ II. officiate, n. rare—1.
[f. L. type *officiātus, f. ppl. stem of officiāre: see prec. and -ate1.]
A body of officials or officers.
| 1865 Even. Standard 10 Mar., There were present..about fifty members of the Senate, including most important acting members of the University officiate. |