administer

[ ad-min-uh-ster ]
See synonyms for: administeradministeredadministeringadministrant on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to manage (affairs, a government, etc.); have executive charge of: to administer the law.

  2. to bring into use or operation: to administer justice;to administer last rites.

  1. to make application of; give: to administer medicine.

  2. to supervise the formal taking of (an oath or the like).

  3. Law. to manage or dispose of, as a decedent's estate by an executor or administrator or a trust estate by a trustee.

verb (used without object)
  1. to contribute assistance; bring aid or supplies (usually followed by to): to administer to those in need of aid.

  2. to perform the duties of an administrator: She administers quite effectively.

Origin of administer

1
First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin administrāre “to assist, carry out, manage the affairs of” (see ad-, minister); replacing Middle English amynistre (with a-5), from Middle French aministrer

synonym study For administer

1. See rule.

Other words for administer

Other words from administer

  • ad·min·is·trant [ad-min-uh-struhnt], /ædˈmɪn ə strənt/, noun
  • non·ad·min·is·trant, adjective
  • self-ad·min·is·tered, adjective
  • self-ad·min·is·ter·ing, adjective
  • un·ad·min·is·tered, adjective
  • well-ad·min·is·tered, adjective

Words Nearby administer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use administer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for administer

administer

/ (ədˈmɪnɪstə) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. (also intr) to direct or control (the affairs of a business, government, etc)

  2. to put into execution; dispense: administer justice

  1. (when intr, foll by to) to give or apply (medicine, assistance, etc) as a remedy or relief

  2. to apply formally; perform: to administer extreme unction

  3. to supervise or impose the taking of (an oath, etc)

  4. to manage or distribute (an estate, property, etc)

Origin of administer

1
C14: amynistre, via Old French from Latin administrare, from ad- to + ministrāre to minister

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012