Ministerial \Min`is*te"ri*al\, a. [L. ministerialis: cf. F.
minist['e]riel. See Minister, and cf. Minstrel.]
1. Of or pertaining to ministry or service; serving;
attendant.
Enlightening spirits and ministerial flames.
--Prior.
2. Of or pertaining to the office of a minister or to the
ministry as a body, whether civil or sacerdotal.
``Ministerial offices.'' --Bacon. ``A ministerial
measure.'' --Junius. ``Ministerial garments.'' --Hooker.
3. Tending to advance or promote; contributive. ``Ministerial
to intellectual culture.'' --De Quincey.
The ministerial benches, the benches in the House of
Commons occupied by members of the cabinet and their
supporters; -- also, the persons occupying them. ``Very
solid and very brilliant talents distinguish the
ministerial benches.'' --Burke.
Syn: Official; priestly; sacerdotal; ecclesiastical.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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