official

n. [ L. officialis a magistrate's servant or attendant: cf. F. official. See Official, a., and cf. Officer. ] 1. One who holds an office; esp., a subordinate executive officer or attendant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An ecclesiastical judge appointed by a bishop, chapter, archdeacon, etc., with charge of the spiritual jurisdiction. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. officialis: cf. F. officiel. See Office, and cf. Official, n. ] 1. Of or pertaining to an office or public trust; as, official duties, or routine. [ 1913 Webster ]

That, in the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Derived from the proper office or officer, or from the proper authority; made or communicated by virtue of authority; as, an official statement or report. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Pharm.) Approved by authority; sanctioned by the pharmacopoeia; appointed to be used in medicine; as, an official drug or preparation. Cf. Officinal. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Discharging an office or function. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The stomach and other parts official unto nutrition. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The body of all people elected or appointed to administer a government, taken collectively.
Syn. -- government officials. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the formal and often obscure style of writing characteristic of some government officials; bureaucratese; -- it is characterized by euphemisms, circumlocutions, vague abstractions, and circumlocutions. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. The state of being official; a system of official government; also, adherence to office routine; red-tapism. [ 1913 Webster ]

Officialism may often drift into blunders. Smiles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Officialty. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to render official; as, we officialized our relationship.
Syn. -- make official. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. By the proper officer; by virtue of the proper authority; in pursuance of the special powers vested in an officer or office; as, accounts or reports officially verified or rendered; letters officially communicated; persons officially notified. [ 1913 Webster ]