Definition

1. Noun:

   • A high-ranking government official: A person who is in charge of a major government department or ministry.
   • A diplomatic representative: A person sent to a foreign country to represent their government, typically ranking below an ambassador.
   • A member of the clergy: A person authorized to conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual duties, especially in some Protestant churches.

2. Verb:

   • To attend to the needs of someone: To provide care, help, or service to someone.
   • To perform the duties of a religious minister: To serve as a clergy member, conducting services and providing spiritual guidance.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The Minister of Education announced new policies for schools.
  • The French minister met with local officials to discuss trade.
  • The minister delivered a powerful sermon on Sunday morning.

• Verb:

  • Nurses minister to the sick and injured with great compassion.
  • After his ordination, he began to minister to a small rural congregation.

Advanced Usage

• "To minister to": This is the standard phrasal construction for the verb, meaning to care for or attend to the needs of someone or something.
  • Volunteers minister to the homeless by providing food and shelter.
• "Prime Minister": A specific compound noun for the head of government in many countries. (Listed under Variants as it is a compound).

Variants and Related Words

• Ministerial (adj): Relating to a government minister or ministry.
  • He has significant ministerial experience.
• Ministry (n):
  • A government department headed by a minister.

    • She works at the Ministry of Defence.
  • The profession, duties, or period of service of a religious minister.

    • He felt a calling to enter the ministry.
• Prime Minister (n): The head of an elected government; the principal minister of a sovereign or state.

Synonyms

• Noun (Government): Secretary, official, administrator.
• Noun (Clergy): Clergyman, clergywoman, pastor, preacher.
• Verb: Tend, care for, attend to, serve.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Minister to: To provide help or care to someone.
  • Her life's work was to minister to the poor.

Related Idioms

• A ministering angel: A phrase used to describe someone who provides kind and devoted care, often in a time of need.
  • During my illness, my neighbor was a true ministering angel.

Noun

1. the job of a head of a government department
2. a diplomat representing one government to another; ranks below ambassador
3. a person appointed to a high office in the government
   • Minister of Finance
4. a person authorized to conduct religious worship
   • clergymen are usually called ministers in Protestant churches

Verb

1. work as a minister
   • She is ministering in an old parish
2. attend to the wants and needs of others
   • I have to minister to my mother all the time