v. t. [ OE. menusen, F. menuiser to make small, cut small, fr. (assumed) LL. minutiare, for minutare, fr. L. minutus small. See Minute, a., and cf. Diminish, Minge. ] To diminish; to lessen. [ 1913 Webster ]

The living of poor men thereby minished. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of diminishing, or the state of being diminished; diminution. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua. Ex. xxiv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

I chose
Camillo for the minister, to poison
My friend Polixenes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An officer of justice. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I cry out the on the ministres, quod he,
That shoulde keep and rule this cité. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A representative of a government, sent to the court, or seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact diplomatic business. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Delegate; official; ambassador; clergyman; parson; priest. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To act as a servant, attendant, or agent; to attend and serve; to perform service in any office, sacred or secular. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Matt. xx. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To supply or to things needful; esp., to supply consolation or remedies; as, to minister to the sick. Matt. xxv. 44. [ 1913 Webster ]

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ministered p. pr. & vb. n. Ministering. ] [ OE. ministren, OF. ministrer, fr. L. ministrare. See Minister, n. ] To furnish or apply; to afford; to supply; to administer. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that ministereth seed to the sower. 2 Cor. ix. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

We minister to God reason to suspect us. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ministerialis: cf. F. ministériel. See Minister, and cf. Minstrel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of or pertaining to ministry or service; serving; attendant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enlightening spirits and ministerial flames. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Tending to advance or promote; contributive. “Ministerial to intellectual culture.” De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Official; priestly; sacerdotal; ecclesiastical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A supporter of the ministers, or the party in power. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a ministerial manner; in the character or capacity of a minister. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Ministry. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Ministration. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]