Minister Definition
mĭnĭ-stər
ministered, ministering, ministers
noun
ministers
Anyone authorized to carry out or assist in the spiritual functions of a church.
Webster's New World
A person acting for another as agent and carrying out given orders or designs.
Webster's New World
The superior of certain Roman Catholic religious orders.
Webster's New World
An ordained member of a Protestant church; esp., a pastor.
Webster's New World
A high officer of state appointed to head an executive or administrative department of government.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
- liaison officer
- consul
- ambassador
- cabinet member
- evangelist
- bible thumper
- missionary
- Bible-reader
- shepherd
- lecturer
- reader
- reverence
- metropolitan
- primate
- cure
Antonyms:
- parishioner
- church member
- layman
verb
ministered, ministering, ministers
To serve as a minister in a church.
Webster's New World
To attend to the wants and needs of others.
Volunteers ministered to the homeless after the flood.
American Heritage
To supply; provide.
Webster's New World
To give help (to)
Webster's New World
To perform the functions of a cleric.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Origin of Minister
-
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.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English from Old French ministre from Latin minister servant mei-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Related Articles
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to minister using the buttons below.