Nearby Words
noun
1.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.
2.
a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.
3.
a person appointed by or under the authority of a sovereign or head of a government to some high office of state, especially to that of head of an administrative department: the minister of finance.
4.
a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador. Compare envoy1 (def. 1).
5.
a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.
verb (used with object)
6.
to administer or apply: to minister the last rites.
7.
Archaic. to furnish; supply.
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Ministering
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
verb (used without object)
8.
to perform the functions of a religious minister.
9.
to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities.: to minister to the needs of the hungry.
10.
to contribute, as to comfort or happiness.
Origin:
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English ministre, minister (< Old French ministre) < Latin minister servant, equivalent to minis- (variant of minus a lesser amount; akin to minor minor) + -ter noun suffix; replacing Middle English menistre < Old French < Latin, as above; (v.) Middle English ministren < Old French ministrer < Latin ministrāre to act as a servant, attend, derivative of minister
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English ministre, minister (< Old French ministre) < Latin minister servant, equivalent to minis- (variant of minus a lesser amount; akin to minor minor) + -ter noun suffix; replacing Middle English menistre < Old French < Latin, as above; (v.) Middle English ministren < Old French ministrer < Latin ministrāre to act as a servant, attend, derivative of minister
Related forms
pre·min·is·ter, verb (used without object)
sub·min·is·ter, noun
un·der·min·is·ter, noun
un·min·is·tered, adjective
Synonyms
9. answer, tend, oblige.
9. answer, tend, oblige.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To ministering
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
minister
c.1300, "one who acts upon the authority of another," from O.Fr. ministre "servant," from L. minister (gen. ministri) "servant, priest's assistant" (in M.L. "priest"), from minus, minor "less," hence "subordinate," + comp. suffix *-teros. Meaning "priest" is attested in Eng. from early 14c. Political
EXPANDsense of "high officer of the state" is attested from 1620s, from notion of "service to the crown." The verb is from c.1300, originally "to serve (food or drink)."
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
minister definition
A title used in many countries for members of cabinets and similar public officials, who are roughly equivalent to the officials in the United States cabinet. For example, a minister of foreign affairs will have duties similar to those of the secretary of state of the United States.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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