GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Minister (?), n. [OE. ministre, F. ministre, fr. L. minister, orig. a double comparative from the root of minor less, and hence meaning, an inferior, a servant. See 1st Minor, and cf. Master, Minstrel.]
   
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   1. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
   
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   Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua. Ex. xxiv. 13.
   
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   I chose
   
   Camillo for the minister, to poison
   
   My friend Polixenes. Shak.
   
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   2. An officer of justice. [Obs.]
   
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   I cry out the on the ministres, quod he,
   
   That shoulde keep and rule this cité. Chaucer.
   
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   3. One to whom the sovereign or executive head of a government intrusts the management of affairs of state, or some department of such affairs.
   
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   Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man. Bacon.
   
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   4. A representative of a government, sent to the court, or seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact diplomatic business.
   
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   ☞ Ambassadors are classed (in the diplomatic sense) in the first rank of public ministers, ministers plenipotentiary in the second. “The United States diplomatic service employs two classes of ministers, -- ministers plenipotentiary and ministers resident.”  Abbott.
   
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   5. One who serves at the altar; one who performs sacerdotal duties; the pastor of a church duly authorized or licensed to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments.  Addison.
   
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   Syn. -- Delegate; official; ambassador; clergyman; parson; priest.
   
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2.       
   Minister, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ministered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ministering.] [OE. ministren, OF. ministrer, fr. L. ministrare. See Minister, n.] To furnish or apply; to afford; to supply; to administer.
   
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   He that ministereth seed to the sower. 2 Cor. ix. 10.
   
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   We minister to God reason to suspect us. Jer. Taylor.
   
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3.       
   Minister, v. i.
   1. To act as a servant, attendant, or agent; to attend and serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular.
   
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   The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Matt. xx. 28.
   
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   2. To supply or to things needful; esp., to supply consolation or remedies; as, “to minister to the sick”.  Matt. xxv. 44.
   
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   Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased? Shak.
   
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