off

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English of, from Old English — more at of Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) from a place or position <

march off

>; specifically away from land <

ship stood off to sea

> (2) at a distance in space or time <

stood 10 paces off

> <

a long way off

> b. from a course ; aside <

turned off into a bypath

>; specifically away from the wind c. into an unconscious state <

dozed off

> 2. a. so as to be separated from support <

rolled to the edge of the table and off

> or close contact <

blew the lid off

> <

the handle came off

> b. so as to be divided <

surface marked off into squares

> 3. a. to a state of discontinuance or suspension <

shut off an engine

> b. — used as an intensifier <

drink off a glass

> <

finish it off

> 4. in absence from or suspension of regular work or service <

take time off for lunch

> 5. offstage II. preposition Date: before 12th century 1. a. — used as a function word to indicate physical separation or distance from a position of rest, attachment, or union <

take it off the table

> <

a path off the main walk

> <

a shop just off the main street

> b. to seaward of <

two miles off shore

> 2. from the possession or charge of <

had his wallet stolen off him

> 3. — used as a function word to indicate the object of an action <

borrowed a dollar off him

> <

dined off oysters

> 4. a. — used as a function word to indicate the suspension of an occupation or activity <

off duty

> <

off liquor

> b. below the usual standard or level of <

off his game

> III. adjective Date: 1666 1. a. seaward b. right c. more removed or distant <

the off side of the building

> 2. a. started on the way <

off on a spree

> b. not taking place or staying in effect ; canceled <

the deal was off

> c. not operating d. not placed so as to permit operation 3. a. not corresponding to fact ; incorrect <

off in his reckoning

> b. poor, subnormal c. not entirely sane ; eccentric d. remote, slight <

an off chance

> 4. a. spent off duty <

reading on his off days

> b. marked by a periodic decline in activity or business <

traveled in the off season for lower prices

> 5. a. off-color b. inferior <

off grade of oil

>; also affected with putrefaction c. down <

stocks were off

> 6. circumstanced <

worse off

> IV. verb Date: 1717 intransitive verb to go away ; depart — used chiefly as an imperative <

off, or I'll shoot

> transitive verb slang kill, murder V. abbreviation office; officer; official