Of gold the very smallest filings are precious, and our Blessed Saviour, when there was no want of provision, yet gave it in charge to his disciples, the off-fall should not be lost.—Sanderson, Preface to the Clavi Trabales.
Poor Lazarus lies howling at his gates for a few crumbs; he only seeks chippings, offals; let him roar and howl, famish and eat his own flesh; he respects him not.—Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, part iii. sect. 1.
| Officious, | } |
| Officiousness. |
Again and again we light on words used once in a good, but now in an unfavourable, sense. An ‘officious’ person is now a busy uninvited meddler in matters which do not belong to him; so late as Burke’s time he might be one prompt and forward in due offices of kindness. The more honourable use of ‘officious’ now only survives in the distinction familiar to diplomacy between an ‘official’ and ‘officious’ communication.
With granted leave officious I return.
Milton, Paradise Regained, ii. 302.
Officious, ready to do good offices, serviceable, friendly, very courteous and obliging.—Phillips, New World of Words.
They [the nobility of France] were tolerably well bred, very officious, humane, and hospitable.—Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, p. 251.
Well try’d through many a varying year,
See Levett to the grave descend,