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minister

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minister¹

  • /ˈmɪn.əˌstɚ/ US
  • /ˈmɪn.ɪ-/ US
  • /ˈmɪn.ɪs.tə/ UK
  • /ˈmɪn.ə.stɚ/ Ireland
  • /ˈmɪn.ə.stɐ/
  • /ˈmɪn.ə.stɚ/

Where it comes from

From Middle English ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister (“an attendant, servant, assistant, a priest's assistant or other under official”), from minor (“less”) + -ter; see minor. Doublet of Minorite.

noun ministers

  1. A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church. The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation.
  2. A person (either a layperson or an ordained clergy member) who is commissioned to perform some act on behalf of the Catholic Church.
  3. A politician who heads a ministry He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.
  4. In diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
  5. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument. […], I choſe / Camillo for the miniſter, to poyſon / My friend Polixenes: […]

minister²

  • /ˈmɪn.əˌstɚ/ US
  • /ˈmɪn.ɪ-/ US
  • /ˈmɪn.ɪs.tə/ UK
  • /ˈmɪn.ə.stɚ/ Ireland
  • /ˈmɪn.ə.stɐ/
  • /ˈmɪn.ə.stɚ/

Where it comes from

Inherited from Middle English mynystren, from Middle French ministrer, from Old French menistrer, ministrer and Latin ministrō, from minister.

verb ministers · ministering · ministered

  1. intransitive To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.
  2. intransitive To function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship.
  3. archaic, transitive To afford, to give, to supply. I do vvell beleeue your Highneſſe, and did it to miniſter occaſion to theſe Gentlemen, […]

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