Minister

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɪnɨstÉš/ or IPA: /ˈmɪnɪstÉ™/

Origin

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.

Full definition of minister

Noun

1. A person who is trained to perform religious ceremonies at a Protestant church.
   The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation.
2. A politician who heads a ministry (national or regional government department for public service).
   He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.
• Francis Bacon (1561-1626)Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man.
3. At a diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
4. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
• Bible, Exodus xxiv. 13Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua.
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)I chose
  Camillo for the minister, to poison
  My friend Polixenes.

Related terms

• ministerial
• ministry
• ministerium

Verb

1. (transitive) To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.A newspaper headline: Couple leaves business world to minister to inner-city children
2. to function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship
3. (transitive, archaic) To afford, to give, to supply.
• Bible, 2 Corinthians ix. 10He that ministereth seed to the sower.
• Jeremy TaylorWe minister to God reason to suspect us.
• 1610, , by William Shakespeare, act 2 scene 1I do well believe your highness; and did it to
  minister occasion to these gentlemen ... to give opportunity to these gentlemen

Anagrams

• interims