minister

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person authorized to conduct religious worship

   clergymen are usually called ministers in Protestant churches

2. 2
   verb

   work as a minister

   They are ministering in an old parish.

3. 3
   verb

   attend to the wants and needs of others

   I have to minister to my mother all the time

4. 4
   noun

   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.

5. 5
   noun

   A politician who heads a ministry

   He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.

6. 6
   noun

   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: […]

7. 7
   verb

   To afford, to give, to supply.

   I do vvell beleeue your Highneſſe, and did it to miniſter occaſion to theſe Gentlemen, […]

8. 8
   noun

   the job of a head of a government department

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.