51Թ

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minister

[min-uh-ster]

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.

  5. a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.



verb (used with object)

  1. to administer or apply.

    to minister the last rites.

  2. Archaic.to furnish; supply.

verb (used without object)

  1. to perform the functions of a religious minister.

  2. to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities..

    to minister to the needs of the hungry.

    Synonyms: , ,
  3. to contribute, as to comfort or happiness.

minister

/ ˈɪɪə /

noun

  1. (esp in Presbyterian and some Nonconformist Churches) a member of the clergy

  2. a person appointed to head a government department

  3. any diplomatic agent accredited to a foreign government or head of state

  4. short for minister plenipotentiary or envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary See envoy 1

  5. Also called (in full): minister resident.a diplomat ranking after an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary

  6. a person who attends to the needs of others, esp in religious matters

  7. a person who acts as the agent or servant of a person or thing

“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

verb

  1. to attend to the needs (of); take care (of)

  2. archaic(tr) to provide; supply

“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

minister

1
  1. In many Protestant churches, the presiding clergyman. Ministers preach sermons; conduct services; officiate at baptisms, weddings, and funerals; and generally look after the needs of their congregation. Some Protestant churches refer to their clergy as pastors or preachers rather than ministers.

minister

2
  1. 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.

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Other 51Թ Forms

  • preminister verb (used without object)
  • subminister noun
  • underminister noun
  • unministered adjective
  • ˈԾٱˌ󾱱 noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of minister1

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English minister, ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister “servant,” from minus “less” (adverb form of minor minor ) + -ter, noun suffix; (for the verb) Middle English ministren, from Old French ministrer, from Latin Ծٰ “to act as a servant, attend,” derivative of minister; master ( def. )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of minister1

C13: via Old French from Latin: servant; related to minus less
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On Friday, a black box was found at the site of the crash which India's civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said would "significantly aid the inquiry" into the disaster.

From

The plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the courts.

From

Last month Denmark's foreign minister summoned the US ambassador in Copenhagen, following a report in the Wall Street Journal alleging that US spy agencies were told to focus efforts on Greenland.

From

That changed when Sir Robert Peel, a Tory prime minister, started London's Metropolitan Police - Britain's first modern, professional force funded from general taxation.

From

She has been joined in these calls by former prime minister Lord Cameron, and said an earlier diagnosis would have given Ivor access to "crucial" therapies.

From

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