Minister
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church.
"The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation."
- 2 the job of a head of a government department wordnet
- 3 A person (either a layperson or an ordained clergy member) who is commissioned to perform some act on behalf of the Catholic Church.
- 4 a person authorized to conduct religious worship wordnet
- 5 A politician who heads a ministry
"He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a diplomat representing one government to another; ranks below ambassador wordnet
- 7 In diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
- 8 a person appointed to a high office in the government wordnet
- 9 A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
"[…], I choſe / Camillo for the miniſter, to poyſon / My friend Polixenes: […]"
- 1 To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service. intransitive
- 2 work as a minister wordnet
- 3 To function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship. intransitive
- 4 attend to the wants and needs of others wordnet
- 5 To afford, to give, to supply. archaic, transitive
"I do vvell beleeue your Highneſſe, and did it to miniſter occaſion to theſe Gentlemen, […]"
Example
More examples"The press besieged the minister with questions."
Etymology
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. Doublet of Minorite.
Inherited from Middle English mynystren, from Middle French ministrer, from Old French menistrer, ministrer and Latin ministrō, from minister.