ministry English · revision 4183

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la ministerium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪn.ɪ.stri/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ministerie]], menstre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) perhaps from Old French menistere “service; position, post”^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly [[bor|la|ministerium|t=office, service, attendance]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|minister|t=servant, inferior; a priest's assistant]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) the source of [[minister]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Service in religious matters, the office of a priest: about 1200.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Personal service or aid is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and the OED has the action of ministering, the rendering of service, from 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The body of ministers of religion, the clergy, is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Agency, the condition of being employed as an instrument, is from 1581.^(OED 1989) The body of ministers of state in a country is from 1710,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in 1916 the word began to be used in the names of British government departments.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – religious service.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1382 – the action of ministering.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – the clergy.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1710 – the ministers of state.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1916 – a government department.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The profession, duties and service of a [[minister]] of religion.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The Christian clergy; the ministers of a church as a body.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The period of service of a minister.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A government department headed by a minister: ''the Ministry of Defence''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The act of serving; [[ministration]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[underministry]]

+ * [[ministerial]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minister]]

+ * [[administer]]

+ * [[minstrel]]

+ * [[ministration]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}