minister Latin · revision 3698

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Varro|origins=ine-pro *meih₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [mɪˈnɪs.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [miˈnis.ter]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''minister''' ''m'' (genitive ministrī, feminine ministra or ministrīx); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[minus]] “less” with the comparative suffix *-tero-, from *minos-tero-, as [[magister]] “master” is from [[magis]] “more”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) The comparative [[minor]] is [[inh|itc-pro|*minōs]], from [[ine-pro|*meih₁-|t=to lessen]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate with [[osc|minstreis|t=of the lesser]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan finds it from Varro onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) and Köbler from Cicero (81–43 BC).^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a servant or attendant, especially one who waited at table, as Virgil's hundred serving men and Horace's serving boy.^(OLD 2012) In religion it was a priest's attendant, as Lucretius' attendants hiding the knife from Iphigenia.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In general it was anyone who helped in a subordinate role, an agent or assistant, as Cicero's orators with jurists as their helpers, and also an accomplice.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In Christian Latin it was a minister of the Church, and in Medieval Latin a royal official, steward or ministerial.^(Köbler 2010) English ''minister'' came from it through Old French about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of sacrificial attendants.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of assistants.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of servants at a feast.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''minister'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A servant, attendant, waiter.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A priest's attendant, acolyte.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An agent, assistant, subordinate; an accomplice.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An official, steward.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Serving, helping.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(with genitive)'' Devoted to the service of (a god).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[administer]]

+ * [[ministerium]]

+ * [[ministra]]

+ * [[praeminister]]

+ * [[ministrō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[magister]]

+ * [[en|minister]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein says ''minister'' was a free person or a subordinate, unlike ''servus'', ''famulus'' and ''mancipium'', which denote slaves.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}