Minionette
(Min"ion*ette), n. (Print.) A size of type between nonpareil and minion; — used in ornamental
borders, etc.
Minioning
(Min"ion*ing) n. Kind treatment. [Obs.]
Minionize
(Min"ion*ize) v. t. To flavor. [Obs.]
Minionlike
(Min"ion*like` Min"ion*ly), a. & adv. Like a minion; daintily. Camden.
Minionship
(Min"ion*ship), n. State of being a minion. [R.]
Minious
(Min"ious) a. [L. minium red lead.] Of the color of red or vermilion. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Minish
(Min"ish) 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.
The living of poor men thereby minished.
Latimer. Minishment
(Min"ish*ment) n. The act of diminishing, or the state of being diminished; diminution. [Obs.]
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 cité.
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.
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.
Minister
(Min"is*ter), 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.
He that ministereth seed to the sower.
2 Cor. ix. 10.
We minister to God reason to suspect us.
Jer. Taylor.
