GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

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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   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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   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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   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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   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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   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.
   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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   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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