Etymology From Middle English ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister (“an attendant, servant, assistant, a priest's assistant or other under official”), from minor (“less”) + -ter; see minor. Doublet of Minorite.
1
Christianity, Protestantism A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church.
The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation.
2
Catholicism, Christianity, Roman Catholicism A person (either a layperson or an ordained clergy member) who is commissioned to perform some act on behalf of the Catholic Church.
He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.
Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man.1661 (first printed), Francis Bacon, A Letter of Advice to the Duke of Buckingham:
4
In diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
5
A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
[…], I choſe / Camillo for the miniſter, to poyſon / My friend Polixenes: […]c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 287, column 2:
And Moſes roſe vp, and his miniſter Ioſhua: and Moſes went vp into the mount of God.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 24:13, column 1:
Etymology Inherited from Middle English mynystren, from Middle French ministrer, from Old French menistrer, ministrer and Latin ministrō, from minister.
1
Used with "to" To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.
2
To function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship.
I do vvell beleeue your Highneſſe, and did it to miniſter occaſion to theſe Gentlemen, […]1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 7, column 2:
([…] Now he that miniſtreth ſeede to the ſower, both miniſter bread for your foode, and multiply your ſeede ſowen, and encreaſe the fruites of your righteouſneſſe)1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 9:10, column 2:
1 more example
We minister to God reason to suspect us.1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC: