In a general sense, denoting from or away from; as:
Denoting distance or separation; as, the house is a mile off.
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.
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.
Denoting a different direction; not on or towards: away; as, to look off.
Denoting opposition or negation. [Obs.]
The questions no way touch upon puritanism, either off or on.
Phrases & Compounds
From off
off from; off.
Off and on
Not constantly; not regularly; now and then; occasionally.
To be off
To depart; to escape; as, he was off without a moment's warning.
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; to be eating less than usual.
Off
a.
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 nigh or near horse or ox; the off leg.
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.
Designating a time when one's performance is below normal; as, he had an off day.
Phrases & Compounds
Off side
The right hand side in driving; the farther side. See Gee.
Off
n.
The side of the field that is on the right of the wicket keeper. (Cricket)