/min"euh steuhr/ , n.
1. a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.
2. a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.
3. a person appointed by or under the authority of a sovereign or head of a government to some high office of state, esp. to that of head of an administrative department: the minister of finance.
4. a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador. Cf. envoy 1 (def. 1).
5. a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.
v.t.
6. to administer or apply: to minister the last rites.
7. Archaic. to furnish; supply.
v.i.
8. to perform the functions of a religious minister.
9. to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities.: to minister to the needs of the hungry.
10. to contribute, as to comfort or happiness.
[ 1250-1300; (n.) ME ministre, minister ( ministre ) minister servant, equiv. to minis- (var. of minus a lesser amount; akin to minor MINOR) + -ter n. suffix; r. ME menistre ministren ministrer ministrare to act as a servant, attend, deriv. of minister ]
Syn. 9. answer, tend, oblige.