officiate

[uh-fish-ee-eyt]

See more synonyms for officiate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing.

to perform the office of a member of the clergy, as at a divine service.
to perform the duties or function of some office or position.
to serve as referee, umpire, or other official in a sports contest or game.

verb (used with object), of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing.

to serve as the priest or minister of (a divine service, religious ceremony, etc.).
to perform, carry out, or fulfill (an official duty or function).
to act as a referee, umpire, timekeeper, or other official for (a sports contest or game).

Origin of officiate

1625–35; < Medieval Latin officiātus (past participle of officiāre to serve), equivalent to Latin offici(um) office + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsof·fi·ci·a·tion, nounof·fi·ci·a·tor, nounun·of·fi·ci·at·ed, adjectiveun·of·fi·ci·at·ing, adjective

Can be confusedofficiate officious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for officiate

preside, function, handle, superintend, umpire, act, serve, direct, boss, govern, command, conduct, run, chair, emcee

Examples from the Web for officiate

Contemporary Examples of officiate

The first thing Joplin needs to find out before he will agree to officiate a wedding is why his potential client is in prison.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars
Caitlin Dickson
December 8, 2014
There, the city is apparently requiring the Hitching Post Lakeside Chapel to officiate gay weddings.
Refusing to Marry Same-Sex Couples Isn’t Religious Freedom, It’s Just Discrimination
Sally Kohn
October 23, 2014
She seems astonished by the fact that no ministers wanted to officiate, writing, “So much for Christianity as we know it today.”
Oswald’s Mother Was a Thoroughly Disagreeable Piece of Work
Steve North
November 17, 2013
Booker had previously refused to officiate at any weddings as a statement of principle until same-sex marriage was legalized.
Gay Marriage Comes to Chris Christie’s New Jersey on Monday
Ben Jacobs
October 19, 2013
Yahadut Hatorah claims it would also allow untrustworthy rabbis to officiate at the Jewish weddings.
Conflict of Interest in Bnei Brak
Yoel Finkelman
March 28, 2012

Historical Examples of officiate

I have just been at our Church where we have had five clergymen to officiate: two in shovel-hats.
Letters of Edward FitzGerald
Edward FitzGerald
They said that could not be, as the people were expecting me to officiate.
Life and Work in Benares and Kumaon, 1839-1877
James Kennedy
"Only fainted," the gentleman who had been proposing to officiate as Milly's stepfather said.
A Sheaf of Corn
Mary E. Mann
Great was the surprise when the victor appeared (p. 127) to officiate as page.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 1 of 8
Various
When you have found this woman, if she has no lover, you will be expected to officiate in that capacity.
A Black Adonis
Linn Boyd Porter

British Dictionary definitions for officiate

officiate

verb (intr)

to hold the position, responsibility, or function of an official
to conduct a religious or other ceremony

Derived Formsofficiation, nounofficiator, noun

Word Origin for officiate

C17: from Medieval Latin officiāre, from Latin officium; see office

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for officiate

1630s, "to perform a duty," especially "to perform the duty of a priest," from Medieval Latin officiatum, from present participle of officiare "perform religious services," from Latin officium (see office). Related: Officiated; officiating.