offĭcĭo (obf-), ēci, ectum, 3, v. n. and a. [ob-facio], to come in the way of, to hinder, oppose, thwart, obstruct (class.; syn. obsto).
I Lit.
α Neutr. : nunc quidem paululum, inquit, a sole: offecerat videlicet apricanti, hindered him from sunning himself , stood before him so as to intercept the sunshine , Cic. Tusc. 5, 32, 92: luminibus, to obstruct one's light : jus vel altius tollendi aedes aut non tollendi, ne luminibus vicini officiatur, Gai. Inst. 2, 31; Dig. 8, 2, 2; 10; 23; 39, 1, 5 et saep.—So, in a fig.: nec mentis quasi luminibus officit altitudo fortunae et gloriae, Cic. Rab. Post. 16, 43: demoliri ea, quorum altitudo officeret auspiciis, id. Off. 3, 16, 66: ipsa umbra terrae soli officiens noctem efficit, intervening before , id. N. D. 2, 19, 49: cum alii in angustiis ipsi sibi properantes officerent, Sall. J. 58, 6: hostium itineri, id. ib. 52, 6: prospectui, Auct. B. Afr. 52.—
β Act. (only ante- and post-class.): quapropter simul inter se retrahuntur et extra Officiuntur, are impeded , Lucr. 2, 156; 4, 763; 5, 776 (iter, Auct. B. Afr. 61, is prob. a gloss).—
II Trop., to stand in the way of , to oppose , obstruct , to be detrimental or hurtful to , to hurt (cf.: obsisto, adversor, noceo): promitto tibi non offerturum, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 97: cur te mihi offers, ac meis commodis, officio simulato, officis et obstas? Cic. Rosc. Am. 38, 112; cf. id. ib. 2, 6: consiliis alicujus, Sall. C. 27, 4: timor animi auribus officit, id. ib. 58, 2: nomini, i. e. famae, Liv. praef. 1: officiunt laetis frugibus herbae, hurt by shutting off light and moisture , Verg. G. 1, 69: lactucae officiunt claritati oculorum, Plin. 20, 7, 26, § 68.—With quominus : nec vero Isocrati, quominus haberetur summus orator, offecit, quod, etc., Plin. Ep. 6, 29, 6.