Office
/ˈɒfɪs/noun
A place where business or administrative work is done, or a position of duty or authority.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin officium, which meant a duty or service owed, so the modern office began as a place of obligation long before it became a room with chairs.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“to do, make”
Latin
Latin
facere
“to do, make”
Latin
Latin
officium
“a duty, service, or public function”
Old French
Old French
office
“duty, service, function; later a religious or administrative post”
Middle English
English
office
“a duty, post, or position of authority”
Modern English
English
office
“a place for business or administrative work, or a position of responsibility”