ministerialadj.n.
/ˌmɪnᵻˈstɪərɪəl/, U.S. /ˌmɪnəˈstɪriəl/, /ˌmɪnəˈstɛriəl/ A. adj.
1. † a. Subsidiary or ancillary in function, role, etc.; acting as an agent, or as an instrument or means; instrumental. Obsolete.
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the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adjective] > instrumental
instrumentala1398
mediate?1504
organic1509
ministerial?1544
instrumentaryc1595
organical1605
subservient1624
ministering1886
?1544 Bp. S. Gardiner Tract against W. Turner in Lett. (1933) 486 That instrumental or occasionative, concurrent or ministeriall cause hath attribute unto it in speche the hole effect.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes Ep. Ded. sig. A3 As life is the Ministeriall Gouernor and moouer in this world, so is learning the Ministeriall Gouernor and moouer in life.
a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) ii. i. §8. 186 Inferior and ministeriall Arts.
a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) i. xi. §4. 118 The most abiect and ministeriall parts of his body.
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 250 Cyrus..[with] Harpagus..were ministerial together in the subduing Astyages.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiii. 287 The States of Holland thought they had merited much in suffering their Ships to transport him, and so being ministerial to his greatness.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. iv. xi. 195 From the Teeth, the grand Instruments of Mastication, let us proceed to the other ministerial Parts.
1828 T. De Quincey Elements Rhetoric in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 888/2 We may admit arts of style and ornamental composition as the ministerial part of rhetoric.
1850 T. De Quincey Conversat. in Hogg's Instructor New Ser. 4 66/1 In speaking above of conversation, we have fixed our view on those uses of conversation which are ministerial to intellectual culture.
a1871 G. Grote Fragm. Ethical Subj. (1876) v. 136 The supreme, or architectonic, ends, are superior in eligibility to the subordinate, or ministerial.
b. Chiefly Law. Relating to or entrusted with the execution of the law or the commands of a superior; relating to or having authority delegated from above.Also: spec. designating an action which is a necessary part of a person's official duty, or which is required by law in certain circumstances, so that the agent is not responsible for its ethicality or consequences; esp. in ministerial act.
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society > authority > delegated authority > [adjective]
delegatory1533
ministerial1577
vicarial1617
vicariate1619
vicary1660
vicegerent1667
procurationalc1702
vicarious1706
administrative1753
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. III. v. i. sig. Bbbb.vi/2 And there is also one sort of power whiche is free and absolute, & an other sort of power whiche is limitted, whiche is also called ministeriall [L. ministerialem].
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 66 He was partly ministeriall, and partly judiciall.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) II. 104 He is but subordinate and ministerial to his Wife, who commands in chief.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. 427 There is yet a fourth species of servants, if they may be so called, being rather in a superior, a ministerial, capacity; such as stewards, factors, and bailiffs.
1824 J. Marshall Writings upon Federal Constit. (1839) 325 The warrant of a ministerial officer may authorize the collection of these penalties, &c.
1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire II. iv. vi. 357 The ministerial or executive duties of the sheriff are tolerably multifarious.
1863 H. Cox Inst. Eng. Govt. i. vii. 92 He..puts questions to the vote,..and performs various functions of a ministerial character.
1946 All Eng. Law Rep. 2 92 When the judge..has..pronounced a decree absolute, there is an end of the matter, and that the steps which are taken subsequently to that pronouncement are merely ministerial acts which have no relation to the validity of the decree.
1986 Stone's Justices' Man. (ed. 118) III. v. 6031 The delivery and receipt of such an information is ministerial, and authority to receive it may be delegated by the clerk to the justices to a member of his staff.
2. Of or relating to the office or duties of minister of religion; characteristic of such a minister.
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > [adjective]
rulerc1390
reverent1398
ruly?c1450
ecclesiasticala1538
ministerial1561
clerical1592
ecclesiastic1603
cleric1623
reverend1625
clergical1632
clergya1635
hieratical1656
churchmanlike1786
shovel-hatted1832
churchmanly1833
hieratic1866
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iv. vi. f. 34 There may be vnder hym [sc. Christ] an other ministerial hed [L. caput ministeriale] (as they terme it) that may be his vicegerent in earth.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxxvii. 228 Ministeriall power is a marke of separation, because it seuereth them that haue it from other men.
1659 J. Milton Considerations touching Hirelings 22 It will not be deni'd that in the gospel there be but two ministerial degrees, presbyters and deacons.
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. xxi. 199 Not that 'tis lawful for any Man to invade the ministerial Office, who is not call'd and ordain'd thereto.
1827 W. Mudge (title) A memorial or ministerial labour; being a selection of discourses delivered in the parish church of Pertenhall, Bedfordshire.
1894 H. H. Gardener Unofficial Patriot 65 The exigencies of his ministerial life had so far made it necessary for him to leave the plantation but twice.
1915 W. Cather Song of Lark i. i. 6 His nervous, ministerial cough annoyed the doctor. ‘Exactly as if he were going to give out a text,’ he thought.
1980 J. A. Hostetler Amish Society (ed. 3) xiii. 287 A small faction..was without leadership. Not being in sympathy with some of the strict Amish rules, it appealed for ministerial help to Big Valley.
1992 Church Times 7 Feb. 11/3 Agreement with..Roman Catholic teaching had not been reached on..points respecting the eucharist and the ministerial priesthood.
3. Of or relating to a public minister or ministry; esp. relating to or connected with a Minister of State or a government department.Also: †siding with or supporting government ministers against the Opposition (obsolete).
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society > authority > office > holder of office > high officials of state > [adjective]
ministeriala1639
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > government department or agency > [adjective]
ministeriala1639
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > government minister > [adjective]
ministeriala1639
a1639 D. Digges Compl. Ambassador (1655) Pref. The cheif ministerial parts lay upon Burleigh and Walsingham.
1735 Visct. Bolingbroke Diss. upon Parties (ed. 2) Ded. p. xxi There are Persons, who take to Themselves the Title of ministerial Writers.
1735 Visct. Bolingbroke Diss. upon Parties (ed. 2) 8 They, who could never brook a Regal, will have the Merit of saving their Country from the Danger of a Ministerial Tyranny.
1747 H. Walpole Let. 1 Sept. (1840) II. 200 My connexions with anything ministerial are as little as possible.
1814 Edinb. Rev. Feb. 530 His [sc. Benjamin Constant's] tract on ministerial responsibility..is an admirable discussion of one of the most important institutions of a free government.
1830 Ld. Valletort in Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 24 1233 Those who sat on the Ministerial side of the House.
1850 H. Martineau Introd. Hist. Peace (1877) III. v. i. 183 Parliament was to be dissolved on the first ministerial reverse.
1879 W. E. Gladstone Gleanings Past Years I. viii. 229 Ministerial responsibility comes between the Monarch and every public trial and necessity, like armour between the flesh and the spear.
1926 B. Whitlock in B. C. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1925 294 He, with..ministerial crises to wade through and a party to manage, could be..brisk and sprightly.
1969 Sci. Jrnl. Sept. 6 As an example of apparent ministerial unconcern he refers to recent exchanges in Parliament on this very problem.
1974 Times 19 Sept. 1/4 In a ministerial broadcast on all channels last night Mr Wilson said [etc.].
1999 New Statesman 8 Nov. 5/2 A select committee chairmanship is often regarded as a stepping-stone to a ministerial career.
B. n.† 1. In plural. Subsidiary provisions. Obsolete. rare.
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1647 J. Trapp Comm. Evangelists & Acts (Matt. v. 18) The ministerials of this law shall pass away together with this life.
2. Medieval History. = ministerialis n.
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society > authority > office > holder of office > official of royal or great household > [noun] > other officers of royal or great household
yeoman of the crown1450
sea-fisher1455
solicitor1460
stationary1462
Clerk of the Signet1489
prothonotary1502
Clerk of the Check1541
yeoman of the revels1552
yeoman of the tents1552
Queen's Remembrancer1647
labourer in trust1746
Master of the Buckhounds1753
cock-crower1785
ministerial1818
1818 H. Hallam View Europe Middle Ages I. ii. 138 Prelates and barons, who surrounded themselves with household officers called ministerials.
1849 J. M. Kemble Saxons in Eng. II. viii. 391 They [sc. the clergy] were called upon to take their place with other landowners, lords, or ministerials in the popular councils.
1934 Speculum 9 169 The vassals of Lorsch..built..such a strong fortification, and called so many ministerials and vassals to its support, that it would take no mean force to capture it.
1976 Viator 7 215 Every class of the German people has been regarded at one time or another as the ancestors of the ministerials.
3. Politics. An international meeting of government ministers. Usually in plural.
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1984 Foreign Affairs Summer 1047 The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministerials of 1983 and 1984, and the recent economic summit meetings all identified the need for trade liberalization.
1990 Financial Post (Canada) (Nexis) 1 June 13 International meetings, such as the OECD ministerials and the G7 summit, are normally about reaching consensus and sending signals to markets and other governments.
1997 Asia Times (Electronic ed.) 20 Jan. We would insist that Burma also sit at the table at ministerials.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.?1544