minister
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈmɪnɪstə/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈmɪnɨstɚ/
Noun

minister (plural ministers)

  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. A politician who heads a ministry (national or regional government department for public service).
    He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.
  3. At a diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
  4. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
    • Bible, Book of Exodus 24:13
      Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua.
    • c. 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The VVinters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:
      I chose / Camillo for the minister, to poison / My friend Polixenes.
Related terms Translations Translations Translations
  • Russian: исполни́тель
Verb

minister (ministers, present participle ministering; past and past participle ministered)

  1. (transitive) To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.
  2. to function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship
  3. (transitive, archaic) To afford, to give, to supply.
    • Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:10
      He that ministereth seed to the sower.
Translations


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