minister

Meanings

Noun

• A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church.
• A politician who heads a ministry (national or regional government department for public service).
• In diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
• A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.

Verb

• To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.
• to function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship
• To afford, to give, to supply.

Related

Broader meaning words

• provost

Origin

• 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 + -ter; see minor.
• From Middle English mynystren, from Old French menistrer, ministrer and Latin ministrō, from the noun.