v. t.
For forms of government let fools contest:
Whate'er is best administered is best. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ Let zephyrs ] administer their tepid, genial airs. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]
Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before known. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
A noxious drug had been administered to him. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
Swear . . . to keep the oath that we administer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
A fountain . . . administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of the place. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Administrator. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Pertaining to administration, or to the executive part of government. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ OE. ministre, F. ministre, fr. L. minister, orig. a double comparative from the root of minor less, and hence meaning, an inferior, a servant. See 1st Minor, and cf. Master, Minstrel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua. Ex. xxiv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]
I chose
Camillo for the minister, to poison
My friend Polixenes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
I cry out the on the ministres, quod he,
That shoulde keep and rule this cité. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Ambassadors are classed (in the diplomatic sense) in the first rank of public ministers, ministers plenipotentiary in the second. “The United States diplomatic service employs two classes of ministers, -- ministers plenipotentiary and ministers resident.” Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
He that ministereth seed to the sower. 2 Cor. ix. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]
We minister to God reason to suspect us. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Matt. xx. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ L. ministerialis: cf. F. ministériel. See Minister, and cf. Minstrel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Enlightening spirits and ministerial flames. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]
The ministerial benches,
n. A supporter of the ministers, or the party in power. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a ministerial manner; in the character or capacity of a minister. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. See Ministry. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ L. subministrare, subministratum. See Sub-, and Ministre, v. t. ] To supply; to afford. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To be subservient; to be useful. [ Obs. ] “Our passions . . . subminister to the best and worst purposes.” L'EStrange. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To serve, or minister to, in a subordinate relation. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]