# minister

Pronunciation: US say "MIN-uh-stur" /ˈmɪn.əˌstɚ/; UK say "MIN-is-tuh" /ˈmɪn.ɪs.tə/

## Noun

1. A member of a government who is responsible for a department or a particular area of its work, either as its head or as a junior minister.
   - Simple: A government leader in charge of a department, such as health or defense, or of part of its work.
   - _The defense minister resigned after the committee published its report._
   - _Cabinet ministers debated the proposal for several hours._
2. A person trained to preach, perform religious ceremonies, and provide pastoral care at a Protestant church.
   - Simple: A person trained to lead worship and care for people at a Protestant church.
   - _The minister baptized three children during the Sunday service._
   - _After the funeral, the minister comforted the grieving family._
4. A diplomatic official who ranks immediately below an ambassador, often heading a legation rather than a full embassy.
   - Simple: A diplomat whose rank is just below an ambassador.
   - _The minister presented his credentials to the host government last spring._
   - _Before becoming an ambassador, she served abroad as a minister for several years._
7. A layperson or ordained clergy member commissioned to perform a particular act on behalf of the Catholic Church.
   - Simple: A person chosen to carry out a religious task for the Catholic Church.
   - _An extraordinary minister distributed the host when the priest needed help._
   - _The bishop commissioned lay ministers to bring communion to homebound members._
5. A servant or subordinate; an officer or assistant of lower rank, and so an agent or instrument through which something is done.
   - Simple: A servant or helper of lower rank, or someone or something used to get things done.
   - _The duke dispatched his most loyal minister to enforce the new order._
   - _In the old tales, the winds served as ministers of the gods, carrying out their commands._

## Verb

3. To attend to someone's needs; to tend, care for, or give aid and service.
   - Simple: To take care of someone and help with what they need.
   - _Volunteers minister to the homeless throughout the cold winter months._
   - _The chaplain ministered to grieving families at the hospital._
6. To serve as a clergyman or to lead worship as the officiant in a church service.
   - Simple: To lead a religious service as a priest or pastor.
   - _The retired pastor still ministers at weddings and funerals._
   - _Newly ordained, he was eager to minister before his first congregation._

## Verb

8. To provide or supply something to someone; to furnish what is needed. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To give or provide something that is needed.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2, 4–5, 7** — Latin minister ("an attendant, servant, or assistant") was formed from minor ("less") and -ter. It became Old French ministre and then Middle English ministre. Minorite is a doublet.
**Meanings 3, 6, 8** — Latin ministrō, from minister, together with Old French menistrer, ministrer and Middle French ministrer, gave Middle English mynystren, the source of this word.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/minister (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).