official

Middle English

/ɔfisiˈaːl/

noun
Definitions
  • An underling of a member of the clergy, often heading a clerical court.
  • A hireling or subordinate; one employed to serve, especially at an estate.

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French official derived from Latin officiālis affix from Middle English office.

Origin

Middle English

office

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms