minister English · revision 2625

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la minus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmɪn.ɪ.stə/, US /ˈmɪn.ɪ.stɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ministre]], [[bor|fro|ministre|t=servant]], also menistre “servant, household officer, minstrel”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) and directly [[bor|la|minister|t=servant, attendant; priest's assistant]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|minus|t=less]], hence “subordinate”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002) with the comparative suffix *-teros,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) on the model of [[m|la|magister]], the source of [[master]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) The root is [[ine-pro|*mey-|alt=*mei-|t=small]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) In Medieval and Late Latin minister also meant a priest, a sense taken directly into Middle English.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is Middle English ministren, from Old French ministrer and Latin [[m|la|ministrāre|t=to serve]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who acts under the authority of another, an agent: about 1290;^(OED 1989) a clergyman about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) A servant or attendant is from about 1325^(Barnhart 1988) or 1375.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An officer administering the law is from about 1386.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to perform religious rites”, is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) before 1338 in Mannyng,^(Barnhart 1988) “to serve food or drink” from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and “to give aid or remedy”, as in ''minister to the sick'', from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A minister of state, appointed by the head of a state to run a department, is from 1625,^(OED 1989) the 17th century in Hoad,^(Hoad 1986) and a diplomatic envoy from one country to another from 1709.^(OED 1989) ''Ministerial'' is from 1561.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline contrasts ''minister'', which sees a clergyman as serving a church, with ''pastor'', which sees him as caring for a flock.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – an agent.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – a clergyman.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – verb, to perform religious rites.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1375 – a servant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1561 – ''ministerial''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1625 – a minister of state.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1709 – a diplomatic envoy.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A member of the [[clergy]], especially in a Protestant church.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A person in charge of a government department.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A diplomat ranking below an [[ambassador]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A person who acts for another; an agent or servant.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To attend to the needs of: ''minister to the sick''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To serve as a member of the clergy.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ministration]]

+ * [[subminister]]

+ * [[underminister]]

+ * [[unministered]]

+ * [[cabinet minister]]

+ * [[foreign minister]]

+ * [[minister without portfolio]]

+ * [[prime minister]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ministerial]]

+ * [[ministerium]]

+ * [[ministry]]

+ * [[administer]]

+ * [[minstrel]]

+ * [[master]]

+ * [[minus]]

+ * [[minor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}