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Webster 1913 Edition


Ministry

Min′is-try

,
Noun.
;
pl. Ministries
(#)
.
[L.
ministerium
. See
Minister
,
Noun.
, and cf.
Mystery
a trade.]
1.
The act of ministering; ministration; service.
“With tender ministry.”
Thomson.
2.
Hence:
Agency; instrumentality.
The ordinary
ministry
of second causes.
Atterbury.
The wicked
ministry
of arms.
Dryden.
3.
The office, duties, or functions of a minister, servant, or agent; ecclesiastical, executive, or ambassadorial function or profession.
4.
The body of ministers of state; also, the clergy, as a body.
5.
Administration; rule; term in power;
as, the
ministry
of Pitt
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Ministry

MIN'ISTRY

,
Noun.
[L. ministerium.] The office, duties or functions of a subordinate agent of any kind.
1.
Agency; service; aid; interposition; instrumentality.
He directs the affairs of this world by the ordinary ministry of second causes.
2.
Ecclesiastical function; agency or service of a minister of the gospel or clergyman in the modern church, or of priests, apostles and evangelists in the ancient. Acts 1. Rom.12. 2 Tim.4. Num.4.
3.
Time of ministration; duration of the office of a minister, civil or ecclesiastical.
The war with France was during the ministry of Pitt.
4.
Persons who compose the executive government or the council of a supreme magistrate; the body of ministers of state.
5.
Business; employment.
He abhorred the wicked ministry of arms.

Definition 2024


ministry

ministry

English

Noun

ministry (plural ministries)

  1. Government department, at the administrative level normally headed by a minister (or equivalent rank, e.g. secretary of state), who holds it as portfolio, especially in a constitutional monarchy, but also as a polity
    She works for the ministry of finance.
  2. The complete body of government ministers (whether or not they are in cabinet) under the leadership of a head of government (such as a prime minister)
    The premier offered his last ministry's resignation to the monarch, and is asked to form a new one in accordance with the election results.
  3. A ministration
  4. The active practice and education of the minister of a particular religion or faith.
  5. (Christianity) The clergy of nonapostolic Protestant churches.
  6. (Christianity) Work of a spiritual or charitable nature.
    the present ministry of the Holy Spirit

Translations

Derived terms