Minister

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: min=is=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

Minister, n. [OE. ministre, F. ministre, fr. L. minister, orig. a double comparative from the root of minor less, and hence meaning, an inferior, a servant. See 1st Minor, and cf. Master, Minstrel.].

•  A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.  [1913 Webster]

  "Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua."  [1913 Webster]

  "I chose
  Camillo for the minister, to poison
  My friend Polixenes."  [1913 Webster]
•  An officer of justice.  [1913 Webster]

  "I cry out the on the ministres, quod he,
  That shoulde keep and rule this cité."  [1913 Webster]
•  One to whom the sovereign or executive head of a government intrusts the management of affairs of state, or some department of such affairs.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man."  [1913 Webster]
•  A representative of a government, sent to the court, or seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact diplomatic business.  [1913 Webster]

  " Ambassadors are classed (in the diplomatic sense) in the first rank of public ministers, ministers plenipotentiary in the second. “The United States diplomatic service employs two classes of ministers, -- ministers plenipotentiary and ministers resident.”"  Abbott.  [1913 Webster]
•  One who serves at the altar; one who performs sacerdotal duties; the pastor of a church duly authorized or licensed to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments.  Addison.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Delegate; official; ambassador; clergyman; parson; priest.

Minister, v. t. [OE. ministren, OF. ministrer, fr. L. ministrare. See Minister, n.].

 To furnish or apply; to afford; to supply; to administer.  [1913 Webster]
"He that ministereth seed to the sower."  [1913 Webster]
"We minister to God reason to suspect us."  [1913 Webster]

Minister, v. i. 

•  To act as a servant, attendant, or agent; to attend and serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular.  [1913 Webster]

  "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."  [1913 Webster]
•  To supply or to things needful; esp., to supply consolation or remedies; as, to minister to the sick.  Matt. xxv. 44.  [1913 Webster]

  "Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased?"  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Minister, n. & v.
--n.
1 a head of a government department.
2 (in full minister of religion) a member of the clergy, esp. in the Presbyterian and Nonconformist Churches.
3 a diplomatic agent, usu. ranking below an ambassador.
4 (usu. foll. by of) a person employed in the execution of (a purpose, will, etc.) (a minister of justice).
5 (in full minister general) the superior of some religious orders.
--v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by to) render aid or service (to a person, cause, etc.).
2 tr. (usu. foll. by with) archaic furnish, supply, etc.

Idiom

ministering angel a kind-hearted person, esp. a woman, who nurses or comforts others (with ref. to Mark 1:13). Minister of the Crown Brit. Parl. a member of the Cabinet. Minister of State a government minister, in the UK usu. regarded as holding a rank below that of Head of Department. Minister without Portfolio a government minister who has Cabinet status, but is not in charge of a specific Department of State.

Derivative

ministrable adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF ministre f. L minister servant f. minus less

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Minister

n. An agent of a higher power with a lower responsibility. In diplomacy and officer sent into a foreign country as the visible embodiment of his sovereign's hostility. His principal qualification is a degree of plausible inveracity next below that of an ambassador.

THESAURUS

Minister

DD, Doctor of Divinity, Holy Joe, abbe, accommodate, administer the Eucharist, agent, aid, alderman, ambassador, ambassadress, anoint, apostolic delegate, archon, assist, attache, bailie, burghermaster, burgomaster, cabinet member, cabinet minister, care for, career diplomat, chancellor, chaplain, charge, chrism, churchman, city councilman, city father, city manager, clergyman, clergywoman, cleric, clerical, clerk, commercial attache, commissar, commissary, commissionaire, commissioner, confirm, consul, consul general, consular agent, councillor, councilman, councilwoman, county commissioner, county supervisor, curate, cure, dean, delegate, diplomat, diplomatic, diplomatic agent, diplomatist, divine, do duty, ecclesiastic, elder, emissary, envoy, envoy extraordinary, evangelist, father, foreign service officer, headman, help, herald, impose, induna, internuncio, lay hands on, legate, legislator, look after, lord mayor, magistrate, maire, man of God, mayor, messenger, military attache, military chaplain, minister of state, minister plenipotentiary, minister resident, minister to, missionary, nuncio, officiate, padre, parson, pastor, perform a rite, perform service, plenipotentiary, portreeve, preacher, priest, rector, reeve, resident, reverend, secretary, secretary of legation, secretary of state, see to, selectman, servant of God, serve, shepherd, sky pilot, supervisor, supply, supply clergy, supply minister, support, syndic, the Reverend, the very Reverend, tonsured cleric, undersecretary, vicar, vice-consul, vice-legate, wait on, warden

ROGET THESAURUS

Minister

Instrumentality

N instrumentality, aid, subservience, subserviency, mediation, intervention, medium, intermedium, vehicle, hand, agency, minister, handmaid, midwife, accoucheur, accoucheuse, obstetrician, gobetween, cat's-paw, stepping-stone, opener, key, master key, passkey, latchkey, open sesame, passport, passe-partout, safe-conduct, password, instrument, expedient, means, instrumental, useful, ministerial, subservient, mediatorial, intermediate, intervening, conducive, through, by, per, whereby, thereby, hereby, by the agency of, by dint of, by virtue of, in virtue of, through the medium of, along with, on the shoulders of, by means of, by the aid of, with the aid of, per fas et nefas, by fair means or foul, somehow, somehow or other, by hook or by crook.

VB subserve, minister, mediate, intervene, be instrumental, pander to, officiate, tend.

Agent

N doer, actor, agent, performer, perpetrator, operator, executor, executrix, practitioner, worker, stager, bee, ant, working bee, termite, white ant, laboring oar, servant of all work, factotum, workman, artisan, craftsman, handicraftsman, mechanic, operative, working man, laboring man, demiurgus, hewers of wood and drawers of water, laborer, navvy, hand, man, day laborer, journeyman, charwoman, hack, mere tool, beast of burden, drudge, fag, lumper, roustabout, maker, artificer, artist, wright, manufacturer, architect, builder, mason, bricklayer, smith, forger, Vulcan, carpenter, ganger, platelayer, blacksmith, locksmith, sailmaker, wheelwright, machinist, mechanician, engineer, sempstress, semstress, seamstress, needlewoman, workwoman, tailor, cordwainer, minister, servant, representative, coworker, party to, participator in, particeps criminis, dramatis personae, personnel, quorum pars magna fui, faber est quisque fortunae suae.

Director

N director, manager, governor, rector, comptroller, superintendent, supervisor, straw boss, intendant, overseer, overlooker, supercargo, husband, inspector, visitor, ranger, surveyor, aedile, moderator, monitor, taskmaster, master, leader, ringleader, demagogue, corypheus, conductor, fugleman, precentor, bellwether, agitator, caporal, choregus, collector, file leader, flugelman, linkboy, guiding star, adviser, guide, pilot, helmsman, steersman, steermate, wire-puller, driver, whip, Jehu, charioteer, coachman, carman, cabman, postilion, vetturino, muleteer, arriero, teamster, whipper in, head, head man, head center, boss, principal, president, speaker, chair, chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, captain, superior, mayor, vice president, prime minister, premier, vizier, grand vizier, eparch, officer, functionary, minister, official, red-tapist, bureaucrat, man in office, Jack in office, office bearer, person in authority, statesman, strategist, legislator, lawgiver, politician, statist, statemonger, Minos, Draco, arbiter, boss, political dictator, board, secretary, secretary of state, Reis Effendi, vicar, steward, factor, agent, bailiff, middleman, foreman, clerk of works, landreeve, factotum, major-domo, seneschal, housekeeper, shepherd, croupier, proctor, procurator, ex officio.

Government

N government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Deputy

N deputy, substitute, vice, proxy, locum tenens, badli, delegate, representative, next friend, surrogate, secondary, regent, viceregent, vizier, minister, vicar, premier, chancellor, prefect, provost, warden, lieutenant, archon, consul, proconsul, viceroy, commissioner, Tsung-li Yamen, Wai Wu Pu, plenipotentiary, alter ego, team, eight, eleven, champion, acting, vice, vice regal, accredited to, in behalf of.

Clergy

N clergy, clericals, ministry, priesthood, presbytery, the cloth, the desk, clergyman, divine, ecclesiastic, churchman, priest, presbyter, hierophant, pastor, shepherd, minister, father, father in Christ, padre, abbe, cure, patriarch, reverend, black coat, confessor, dignitaries of the church, ecclesiarch, hierarch, ebdomarius, eminence, reverence, elder, primate, metropolitan, archbishop, bishop, prelate, diocesan, suffragan, dean, subdean, archdeacon, prebendary, canon, rural dean, rector, parson, vicar, perpetual curate, residentiary, beneficiary, incumbent, chaplain, curate, deacon, deaconess, preacher, reader, lecturer, capitular, missionary, propagandist, Jesuit, revivalist, field preacher, churchwarden, sidesman, clerk, precentor, choir, almoner, suisse, verger, beadle, sexton, sacristan, acolyth, acolothyst, acolyte, altar boy, chorister, Pope, Papa, pontiff, high priest, cardinal, ancient flamen, flamen, confessor, penitentiary, spiritual director, cenobite, conventual, abbot, prior, monk, friar, lay brother, beadsman, mendicant, pilgrim, palmer, canon regular, canon secular, Franciscan, Friars minor, Minorites, Observant, Capuchin, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Gilbertine, Austin Friars, Black Friars, White Friars, Gray Friars, Crossed Friars, Crutched Friars, Bonhomme, Carthusian, Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, Cluniac, Premonstatensian, Maturine, Templar, Hospitaler, Bernardine, Lorettine, pillarist, stylite, abbess, prioress, canoness, religieuse, nun, novice, postulant, prophet, priest, high priest, Levite, Rabbi, Rabbin, Rebbe, scribe, mullah, muezzin, ayatollah, ulema, imaum, imam, sheik, sufi, kahin, kassis, mufti, hadji, dervish, fakir, faquir, brahmin, guru, kaziaskier, poonghie, sanyasi, druid, bonze, santon, abdal, Lama, talapoin, caloyer, the Reverend, the very Reverend, the Right Reverend, ordained, in orders, called to the ministry.

Rite

VB perform service, do duty, minister, officiate, baptize, dip, sprinkle, anoint, confirm, lay hands on, give the sacrament, administer the sacrament, administer extreme unction, hear confession, administer holy penance, shrive, excommunicate, ban with bell book and candle, attend services, attend mass, go to mass, hear mass, take the sacrament, receive the sacrament, receive communion, attend the sacrament, partake of the sacrament, partake of communion, communicate, receive extreme unction, confess, go to confession, receive penance, anele, preach, sermonize, predicate, lecture.