Minister \Min"is*ter\, 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.]
1. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of
inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua. --Ex. xxiv.
13.
I chose Camillo for the minister, to poison My
friend Polixenes. --Shak.
2. An officer of justice. [Obs.]
I cry out the on the ministres, quod he, That
shoulde keep and rule this cit['e]. --Chaucer.
3. One to whom the sovereign or executive head of a
government intrusts the management of affairs of state, or
some department of such affairs.
Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they
are, must be answerable to God and man. --Bacon.
4. A representative of a government, sent to the court, or
seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact
diplomatic business.
Note: 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.
5. One who serves at the altar; one who performs sacerdotal
duties; the pastor of a church duly authorized or licensed
to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments.
--Addison.
Syn: Delegate; official; ambassador; clergyman; parson;
priest.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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