Category:Off

Off, adv. Etym: [oe. of, orig. the same word as r. of, prep., As. of, Adv. & prep. *194. See of.]

Defn: in a general sense, denoting from or away from; as:

1. Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off.

2. Denoting the action of removing or separating; separation; as, to Take off the hat or cloak; to cut off, to pare off, to clip off, to Peel off, to tear off, to march off, to fly off, and the like.

3. Denoting a leaving, abandonment, departure, abatement, Interruption, or remission; as, the fever goes off; the pain goes Off; the game is off; all bets are off.

4. Denoting a different direction; not on or towards: away; as, to Look off.

5. Denoting opposition or negation. [obs.] The questions no way touch upon puritanism, either off or on. Bp. Sanderson. From off, off from; off. "a live coal...taken with the tongs from off The altar." Is. vi. 6. -- off and on. (a) not constantly; not regularly; now and then; Occasionally. (b) (naut.) On different tacks, now toward, and now Away from, the land. -- to be off. (a) to depart; to escape; as, he was off without a Moment's warning. (b) to be abandoned, as an agreement or purpose; As, the bet was declared to be off. [colloq.] -- to come off, to cut Off, to fall off, to go off, etc. See under come, cut, fall, go, etc. -- to get off. (a) to utter; to discharge; as, to get off a joke. (b) to go away; to escape; as, to get off easily from a trial. [colloq.] -- to take off, to mimic or personate. -- to tell off (mil.), to divide and practice a regiment or company In the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general Parade for field exercises. Farrow. -- to be well off, to be in good condition. -- to be ill off, to be badly off, to be in poor condition.

Off Off, interj.

Defn: away; begone; -- a command to depart.

Off Off, prep.

Defn: not on; away from; as, to be off one's legs or off the bed; two Miles off the shore. Addison. Off hand. See offhand. -- off side (football), out of play; -- said when a player has got In front of the ball in a scrimmage, or when the ball has been last Touched by one of his own side behind him. -- to be off color, to be of a wrong color. -- to be off one's food, to have no appetite. (colloq.)

Off Off, a.

1. On the farther side; most distant; on the side of an animal or a Team farthest from the driver when he is on foot; in the united States, the right side; as, the off horse or ox in a team, in Distinction from the ant: nigh or ant: near horse or ox; the off leg.

2. Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business Or affairs, or is absent from his post, and, hence, a time when Affairs are not urgent; as, he took an off day for fishing: an off Year in politics. "in the off season." Thackeray. Off side. (a) the Right hand side in driving; the farther side. See gee. (b) (cricket) See off, n.

Off Off, n. (cricket)

Defn: the side of the field that is on the right of the wicket Keeper.