officious

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

Etymology

15th century, from Middle English offycyous, from Latin officiōsus (“kindly”), from officium (“service”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

interfering, meddlesome, meddling, busy, busybodied

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