1. 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. 2. Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue
of authority; as, an official statement or report.
3. (Pharm.) Approved by authority; sanctioned by the pharmacopœia; appointed to be used in medicine; as,
an official drug or preparation. Cf. Officinal.
4. Discharging an office or function. [Obs.]
The stomach and other parts official unto nutrition.
Sir T. Browne. Official
(Of*fi"cial), n. [L. officialis a magistrate's servant or attendant: cf.F. official. See Official, a.,
and cf. Officer.]
1. One who holds an office; esp., a subordinate executive officer or attendant.
2. An ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual
jurisdiction. Blackstone.
Officialism
(Of*fi"cial*ism) n. The state of being official; a system of official government; also, adherence
to office routine; red-tapism.
Officialism may often drift into blunders.
Smiles. Officiality
(Of*fi`ci*al"i*ty) n. See Officialty.
Officially
(Of*fi"cial*ly) adv. 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 verified or rendered; letters
officially communicated; persons officially notified.
Officialty
(Of*fi"cial*ty) n. [Cf.F. officialité.] The charge, office, court, or jurisdiction of an official. Ayliffe.
Officiant
(Of*fi"ciant) n. [L. officians, p. pr. See Officiate.] (Eccl.) The officer who officiates or performs
an office, as the burial office. Shipley.
