Middle English Dictionary Entry
ministre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ministre n. Also minister, ministour, minstre, minster, minester; pl. ministres, minstirsse, ministresse, (error) minists. |
| Etymology | L minister & OF menistre, ministre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A personal servant or assistant.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.20.26 : Who euere wole be maad more among ȝou, be he ȝoure mynystre; and who euere amonge ȝou wole be firste, he shal be ȝoure seruaunt.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 18.3 : Judas hadde takun a cumpany of kniȝtis, and of the bischopis and Pharisees mynystris.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)104a/b : Whilez þe arme is strecched..bi som ministre [Ch.(2): seruant; L ministrum], or som instrument, or bi þe maister sodanly drawen bacward, þe arme is plied to þe shuldre.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)123b/b : Ȝif þe surgene maie not do it bi him selfe, he moste haue a minister þat mowe helpe him.
- c1425 MS Sln.277 in EETS 102 (Sln 277)315 fn. : He schal haue a mynystre, which schal holde fast þe heuyd of þe seeke.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)26 : And alle so aseruant, or aminister, if þat he do wilfully with good wille, putteth to deed him þat is dampned be iustes.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)223/34 : Be þai þirstede by þe wounde by þe ministre aboute the stalke, and þan the maister schal drawe out þe arwe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)338 : Mynyster [KC: mynster], servawnt: Minister, famulus, servus.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1267 : Maistris & mynistris, menere & grettir..was..martrid a hundreth.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)96a : Þe trybe and a gret company and mynistres of þe Iewes tooke Ihesus and bounde Hym hard and fast.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1347 : If youre Mynystres be witty and trewe, Such shal not nede your werkis to renewe.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2741 : No mynystre is apte to this entent But he sobre be, wise, & diligent.
2a.
(a) A man consecrated to service in the Christian Church; an ecclesiastic of any rank; a priest, a cleric; ~ of holi chirche, ~ of the chirche, ~ of crist, godes ~, etc.; ministres twelve, the twelve disciples; (b) a priest's attendant, a bishop's subordinate; (c) one who administers a sacrament; (d) ~ of the word, one who proclaims God's word; (e) a Jewish or pagan priest.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)462 : Frere Austyn, þat was ministre under him i-do..To þe Ioye of heouene wende with is maister, seint Fraunceis.
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)629 : Huy cleopeden alle þe preostes and þe clerkus euerech-on, And alle þe oþur ministres.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)55/1539 : On may al þys ordres haue Ryt wel in holy cherche..Ȝef her nys suiche mynystre non, Þys temple stent euere.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)236/11 : Þe gerdel huermide þe ministres of holy cherche ssolle ham gerde ope þe lenden is chastete.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)237/6 : Alsuo ssolle þe prelas and þe oþre ministres of holy cherche ssewy þane way of helþe to oþren.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)237/33 : Þe kueadnesse of þe ministre ne apayreþ naȝt þe sacrement ne þe guodnesse.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.11.23 : Thei ben the mynistris of Crist.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.60 : It ben aires of heuene, alle þat ben crouned, And in queer and in chirches, cristes owene mynestres.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)101/24 : He wol seie to his seruantis, þat ben ministres of Holi Chirche.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3684 : He es Goddes minister and haly kirkes, Þat þe sacrament of þe auter wirkes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)254/33 : God wil not þat seculeris of þe world correcte þe mynystris of holy chirche.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.24/26 : It was maner and custome to this Alfunine with mynystris of the Chirche to..go abowte the nye placys of the chirche.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)44/2 : He schulde serue God and wurschip the temple, that is to seye, the chirche and the mynystres therof.
- (1443) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23253 : All thoo that be called ministers of Goddis chirch, seculiers and reguliers.
- (1447-8) Shillingford78 : Sir Lewis Walssheman..and meny other minesters of the saide churche.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.111/7 : To the modur church and to the mynsters þere seruyng god.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)644/13 : That the forseyd churche be free..in othyr mynstyrsse of the same to be browht in-to plee.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)11 : If minstris of þe kirke wele not frely minster to hem.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)2997,3000 : After him [Christ] his ministres twelue Shullen comaunde þe peple þe-selue..þei þat come aftir tho..sholen in stede of minists [read: ministres] go.
b
- (1408-17) Rec.St.Mary at Hillp.xcvi : A tent withowt the west ende of the church yerd made of Clothe, in whiche the Busshop and his mynysters shall be rayed.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)343/5 : Þe mynystre which seruede þe prest wolde not warne hym.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)330 : To ordeyne seruauntis and mynistris to preestis in þi seruice, as ben dekenys.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1857 : When seynt Donstone þis letter had redde..Sore he wepe..His mynstres dreddone hem fulle sore.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)131 : Manerly with his ministres þe masse he begynnes.
- a1525(?1424) Cov.Leet Bk.96 : He was lycenciate & licens had to preche of the bischops minysters of this diocese.
c
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.18 : Our Jesus Crist..bad hise disciplis serve þe puple at þe mete, to teche us þat we ben mynystris and not autouris of miracle.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)366/4 : In my laste soper I ȝaf my-selfe to my disciples in sacramente, and to hem and alle oþere mynistirs of this sacrafyce.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)370/13 : My kynge and my god, þat vouchedist-safe to chese me vnto þe offyce of preste..& woldest make me mynistir of so grete mysteryes.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)374/41 : A worþy mynistre or receyuoure of þis sacramente.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)182/11 : Sorow and biternes ben vndyrstonde in lettuse, that owe to be in the mynister of this holy sacrament.
d
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.172 : I sall be mynystire of thi worde.
e
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 4.20 : He entride..in to the synagoge..And the book of Ysaie..was takun to him..And whanne he hadde closid the book, he ȝaf aȝein to the mynystre, and sat.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)87/11 : Þe mynisters þat kepez þat ilk mawmet.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)153/2 : Þe prestez and ministres of ydoles er obedient to him as oure prestez er till oure pape.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)75.138 (v.2:p.62) : A yung hekfere, that is to seyn a yung cowe, the which was brought to ben offrid amonge the mynistres handis, brought forthe a lambe.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)37 : Samuel first was mad a ministir of the same tabernacle.
2b.
A supervisor of a religious order; ~ general, ~ provincial, etc., the superior or provincial superior of the Friars Minor.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.91 : It semeth nouht parfytnesse in cytees for to begge, Bote he be obediencer to pryour oþer to mynstre [vr. mynystre].
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)67/5 : No frere schuld be hardy..to preche to þe peple, but he be examyned & appreued of þe mynistre general.
- (1421) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113166 : I frer' John Ricall, Warden of ye frer' menours of ye covent of York and Vicar of our worshippfull fader provinciall minister.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)43 : In whiche chapitre be þe mynystris prouyncial holden euermore to come to-gidre, where euer it haþ ben ordeyned of þe general mynystre.
- (1450) RParl.5.195b : This Acte of Resumption, shall not..be prejudiciall To Nicholas, nowe Maistir or Minister of the ordre of Seynt Gilbert of Sempyngham.
- a1500(1396) Indent.Francisc.in RS 4.1 (Vit F.12)521 : John Malberthorpe Wardyn of the freers minors in London..by the graunt and wyll of our lord the Kyng, and by the assent of the Ministre prouincyall of the set order in Englond.
3.
(a) One who renders official service for a superior, a public official of any rank; also, a minor official, an underling; ~ of the forest, a king's forester; ~ of the laue, a judicial magistrate; (b) an administrator of an estate, an executor of a will.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.134 : Þos king is ministris beþ ischend, To riȝt and law þat ssold tak hede.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)102.21 : Ȝe his ministris, þat don hys wille, blisced our Lord.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.411 : Almachius hastily Bad hise ministres fecchen openly Cecile.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.15.19 : She fel doun & vttirly swownede; þe king forsoþe was disturbid & alle his mynystris counforteden hym.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.37 : What sche myȝte nouȝt doo in here owne persone sche dede by anoþer; for here mynister [L minister] Elferus..took Edwardes body and buried it..at Septoun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4232 : I crye out on the mynystres..That sholden kepe and reulen this citee.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.312 : Þei said him tille his ministres wasted þe lond.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.288 : As iustyce to iugge men enioigned is no pore, Ne to be a Maire aboue men, ne mynystre vnder kynges.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 10.5 : The queen of Saba siȝ..the dwellyng places of hise [Solomon's] seruantis, and the ordris of mynystris [WB(1): seruytours; L ministrantium].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Prov.14.35 : A mynystre [WB(1): seruaunt; L minister] vndurstondynge is acceptable to a kyng.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/9 : Wher be thy mersmentis, that thou by theifte hast take away, deceyuyng the mynystrys of the Shereve?
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.796 : Princis may..Graunte ther mynistris in cites gret offices.
- (1442) RParl.5.54b : Nowe late diverse Custumers..have diverse persones to be here Clerkes, Deputees, and Ministres in here seide Offices.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)336 : Þat he defende eche of hise legi men bi his strenþe..and hise lawis..and þerto ordeyne vndir hym deputees or officers, mynistris to execute hise lawis.
- (1444) RParl.5.121a : As ofte as the Baillifs and othir Ministres..do ayenst eny Article in the seid Cedule conteined.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1356 : The stuardes, auditours, and other lerned counsell and Ministres of the said College.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1378 : For the yerely wages and rewardes of Officers and Ministres longyng to the werkes there..for the Maister of the werkes..for the Clerk of the werkes..for the chief Mason..for the chief Carpenter..for the chief Smyth.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2535 : If þe ministres do naght but iustice To poore peple..thei wene euermo The kyng be iust.
- a1450 Forest Laws (Dc 335)241 : If ther be ony forster or minister of the forest that maketh ony..extorcions..be coloure of his office, ye shul do vs to wete.
- a1450 Forest Laws (Dc 335)242 : The wardeyn or the liefteneaunt or ony other minister of the forest.
- (a1450) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xliv : He is comune minister unto the citee of London, chosen to be their comune officer and clerk, attendunt unto the mair and aldremen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2911 : Þou melis noȝt as a minister; a messangere bowis.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3436 : The mynystres of babel..gaf hyt [Circes' drink] to kyng Sedechye.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)26/28 : If the mynister of the lawe [L minister legis] slee ony-body be the lawe, bot more for euyl wylle of veniaunce than for loue of rightwysnes, he synnes greuosly.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)97b : Ihesus..seyde..'yif my kyngdome were of þis worlde, my mynistres wolde haue withstonde þat I shoulde haue been ytake to þe Iewes.'
- c1460 Oseney Reg.36/13 : Erles, Barons, Justices, Shreves, Revys, Minsters..Bayleffes.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)47 : A elde Man sei he sitting in majeste, and aboute Him a thousand thousand of ministres.
- (1472) RParl.6.63a : Provided alweys that..noon of the Kynges Mynystresse be charged..for eny execucion doon upon the seid Jugement.
- (1474) RParl.6.103a : Henry Neuton, oon of the Sergeants at Mace of..oon of Shirrefs of the Cite of London..the seid Henry, as Mynister unto the seid Shirrefs, brought the seid Thomas Bishop..before the seid Chaunceller.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)644/13 : That the forseyd churche be..restyd fro all exaccion..of the archydiacon, as in..chapeleyns to be callyd in plee, or in othyr mynstyrsse of the same to be browht in-to plee.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.339 : Iosue, the minister [Trev.: seruaunt; L minister] of Moyses, rewlede the peple of Israel.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)55/6 : Ye owe Him both seruice and feithe..to kepe rightwisenes as a commyssioner and a ministour.
- a1525(?1472) Cov.Leet Bk.383 : To obbey our lawes & to obbey þe gouernors, our jugez, officers, & minysters of the same.
b
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.38 : Þe mynisters of the forsaid sir Roger and of his heirs, at here will, shul haue the thynges so preised.
- (1470) Will York in Sur.Soc.45180 : Thies ar the persons that I mak myne executours and mynisters of this my sayd will.
- c1650(1430) Dec.Leigh in Local Gleanings 1147 : Ye said Hugh of Pemberton..was executour and minister of the goodes & catell of the said Roger.
- -?-(1463) Will in Som.RS 16197 : My trieu executors, feoffees, and ministers, as they wille answere afore God.
4.
An agent acting for a superior; a person deputized to perform a specific act.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)64-5 : Ore [louerd] makez is Aungles ase gostes fleojnde, And heom þat beoth is ministres ase fuyr berninde. Godes ministres aungles beoth.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.485 : Thy prynces han the maked Ministre of deeth.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.13.4 : If thou doist yuel thing, drede thou..for he [a prince] is the mynistre of God.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1483 : For þe mordre of Agamenoun, Þe myȝti Lord..Made his mynystre of þe same blood, Ȝonge Horrestes..Texecute his dome of riȝtwisnesse.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Gal.3.19 : Moises and oþere mynystres of god in þe hand of þe medyatour.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)34/28 : Biholde and se þat I haue ordeyned men my mynystris to þat entent þat þe vertues of charite schulden be vsid togiders among hem.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)100/9 : The feend is a mynystre ordeyned of my riȝtwiisnes to turment soulis whiche greuously offenden me.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3956 : Thei [tyrants] been mynistris to Parchas sustren thre.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3692 : Scipio, On a mynystre of his þe charge leide, ffor hir fadir and modir blyue goo.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)2/29 : Thys [the earth] graunte I ȝowe, mynysters myne.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)13/21 : For our Lord knew ful wel where he schuld be conuerted..and had ordeyned be-fore þe menes and þe ministres and þe places.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1173 : He monyshytt hym as a minister hym manly to sende Fresh folk for þe fight.
5.
Fig. (a) An inanimate or abstract servant, attendant, deputy, or agent; (b) a follower of Antichrist; anticrist ~; a servant of the Devil; ~ of helle; (c) one who practices an art or craft; (d) a dispenser or servitor.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.1 : The ministre and the norice vn to vices, Which that men clepe in Englissh ydelnesse, That porter of the gate is of delices.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1663 : The destinee, ministre general, That executeth in the world oueral The purueiaunce that God hath seyn biforn.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.168 : She is mirour of alle curteisye. Hir herte is verray chambre of holynesse, Hir hand ministre of fredam for almesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.583 : Pride..is principal, And hath with him in special Ministres five ful diverse.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1300 : Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce, As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse Of this chanoun roote of al cursednesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)29b/a : And so hete of fier, of eiery craft & of kinde is mynystir & seruaunt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)115a/a : Þe mone is..modir of alle humours, mynystre and lady of þe see.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)53b/a : Which first generale intensioun is perfourmed of 2 þingz: Of nature as principale doyng & wirching..Of þe leche as ministre worching with 5 entencionz subalternate togider.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)159b/a : A leche is helper of nature..Nature ys wircher of al þingez, þe leche forsoþ þe minister.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)674 : Nature..is of God mynystir and vikeer.
b
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4613 : Anticrist mynisters when he es dede, Sal..haf þair delices nyght and day.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)37.402 : Ȝe wenden A schipe that it hadde be, but it nas not So..but Anothir schrewed Enemy it was, On of his [Satan's] Mynestres In that plas.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.348 : I was..with Ministres Of helle from ȝow Reft.
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)61 : He takuth hit to þe fende off helle, & to hys mynestrees.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)30.19 : Lat the deuel and his mynystres haf no maystri ouer me.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9993 : Deuelis ben euermore redy Where so a man dooth wickidly, And fele mynistres haue þay.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11743 : Manye wondres shal falle By him [anticrist] and hise ministres als.
c
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1684 : And science perspectyfe gevith grete euydence To al the mynysters of this science, And so doon othir sciencis many mo.
d
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.105v : He forsoth withdrough and restrayned hymself therfro and that that he myght spare yaf hit to power nedy wherefore his riȝt hond, ministre and delere of his almes, neuer wolde rote.
6.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1275) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms168 : Haldan ministr.
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1810 : Adam le Ministre.
- (1384) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms168 : Joh. Ministre.