ministra Latin · revision 32240

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=2nd/1st century BC, Laevius|origins=ine-pro *meih₁-iōs-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [mɪˈnɪs.tra], [mɪˈnɪs.traː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [miˈnis.tra], [miˈnis.tra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ministra''' ''f'' (genitive ministrae, masculine minister); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of [[m|la|minister|t=servant, attendant]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|minister]] from [[itc-pro|*minos-tero-]], built on the comparative [[m|la|minor|t=smaller, less]], which he traces to [[ine-pro|*meih₁-iōs-|t=less]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|minstreis|t=smaller]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Laevius.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's first examples are Catullus' “servant of the gods and handmaid of Cybele” and Varro's Ceres, provider of food.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a female servant or attendant, as Virgil's Italian women chosen by Camilla as her helpers in peace and war, and a woman dedicated to the service of a deity, as Propertius' servant of the turreted goddess and Statius' attendants of Vesta.^(OLD 2012) The TLL notes that some writers distinguish it from [[ancilla]], others not.^(TLL) Figuratively it is used of things: Cicero calls false accusation the bitterest servant of the praetors' greed.^(OLD 2012) It also means one who assists in an action, an accomplice, as Valerius Flaccus' Rumour, and a provider.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In Christian use it is a deaconess, first in a letter of Pliny the Younger to Trajan.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 2nd/1st century BC – Laevius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of a servant of Cybele.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of false accusation as the servant of greed.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of Camilla's companions.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A female servant or [[m|en|attendant]], a maid.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A woman dedicated to the service of a deity;^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) ''(Christianity)'' a [[m|en|deaconess]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+ # Of things, a servant or instrument.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A woman who assists in an action, an aide, an [[m|en|accomplice]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A provider.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praeministra]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minister]]

+ * [[ministro|alt=ministrō]]

+ * [[administra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}