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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Minister, v. Also: ministar, -yr, -re, minnistre, mynister(e, -yster, mynystr-, minster, minstr-, menister. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. mynistre, -ystre, minister, minster, OF. ministrer, L. ministrāre (see Ministrat v.).]

1. tr. To furnish, supply, impart. a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 474.
Thi fel feyre refreschis me And to thé ay-lestand payne It sal mynistere 1456 Hay I. 159/7. Ib./28.
Quhen a prisoner is tane … his maister … suld mynester him lyfing sufficiandly Ib. II. 39/36. 1489 Acta Conc. I. 128/1.
For the quhilk the said Johne Inglis sall gif & minister to the said Robert his honorable sustentacione & leving [etc.] a1500 Colk. Sow iii. 22.
The erth mynisteris it nutrimentis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 312/24.
Abraham maid sacrifice of a ram ministerit to him be the angell Ib. 316/10.
The son stud still contrar natur … and ministerit to him dayis licht 1513 Doug. i. iii. 95.
Thar greif and fury mynysteris wapynnys plente Ib. ix. xiii. 54.
Nor … Juno in that fyght Agane thame durst him minster strenth nor mycht 1572 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. B. i.
God of His mercy will minister His graces unto me c1590 Fowler I. 17.
Seing I hawe to muche mater ministred onto me … I am forced to shorten this preface 1596 Dalr. I. 6/7. Ib. 18/10.

b. To furnish mater (= means), (the) occasioun or cause (of doing something, or of something being done). 1564 Warrender P. I. 42.
Hir Majestie … hes a grite daill mair plesour to be the instrument of the uphald … of the ancient blude then to have mater ministrid of the decay … of ony gude race 1570 Leslie 12.
Archbalde Erle of Dowglas … wald not obay the governouris aucthoritie; quhilk ministred the occasioun to sundrie utheris to do the like 1584 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI. 119.
The rest … to be concludit and set down be comoun advyse, as tyme and occasion sall minister mater a1634 Forbes Rec. 418.
To minister occasion … to his hienes to obtain … advantage against their persons Ib. 458.
Whatsoever harme were done to the Church of God … should proceede from no just cause ministred by them

2. To execute, dispense or administer (justice, judgement, the law). 1449 Acts II. 35/2.
At iuste men be maid Justicis that kennys the law & that will minister eviniy justice 1456 Ib. 46/2.
The lordis … to begyne … and ministyr justice and decide complayntis Ib.
To minister the lawe iustly and ewynly c1460 Regim. Princ. 178.
Ane auditour … Quhilk daily suld ministir jugement To pure folk 1471 Acta Aud. 12/2.
Gif scho findis hir iniurit tharin … our souuerain lord sal ger minister hir justice 1474 Ib. 33/2. 1494 Acta Conc. I. 359/2.
And gif it plesse the said Angus to tak summondis … justice salbe ministrit 1495 Liber Aberbr. II. 291. 1533 Gau 9/25. 1533 Boece ii. xii. 82. 1535 Reg. Dunferm. I. 340.
The … ballies … to proceid & minster justice in the said actione 1549–50 Elgin Rec. I. 100.
In streking of the bailȝe … within the tolboyth minnistrand the Quenis servis 1550 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 151.
All … committaris of thift [etc.] … to justify and to minister justice upoun thame conforme to the lawis 1560 Acts II. 531/1.
Ecclesiasticall discipline vprichtlie ministerit as Goddis worde prescribis a1578 Pitsc. I. 38/23.
It is contrair to all law and ressone that ony minister the law vnto him self 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 299.
Very sendle … hes ony justice bene ministred 1596 Dalr. I. 169/9.
Justice and aequitie he ministerit amang his awne 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.

3. To carry out the duties of, officiate in (an office). 1516 Wigtown B. Ct. 57 a.
Georg Inglis deyne hais depute vndir him Thom McCullach to minister the office of deynerie for an ȝere 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 200 (9 Nov.).

4. To dispense, administer (a sacrament, also, the gospel). 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 294 b.
The preist consecrand and ministrand this haly sacrament c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4842. 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xl.
To haif faithfull ministeres purelie … to minister Christes evangell and sacramentes to his peopill 1559 Statut. Sc. Ch. 189.
The Eternal Father … quhame in this biyssit sacrament … I am to minister to yow Ib. 157. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 16/13.
Sum lordis and gentilmen … ministrand ȝour communioun … to thair awin houshald 1564 Canongate Kirk S. 17 Feb.
The commonion to be ministerit vpone the xxv day of this instant 1568 Peebles B. Rec. I. 73.
Quhairthrouch I may leirne to minister the ewangell of Jesu Christ 1571 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 383.
In the yill quhair the communioun ves menisterit 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 72. 1596 Dalr. I. 106/22. 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 18.

5. To administer (medicine). a1500 Henr. III. 153/83.
Schir, minister this medecyne at evin to sum man 1600 Colville Palinode 4.
I will minister vnto you an vnexpected medecine for the inexpected wound that I haue opened vp vnto you

6. To tend, attend to. 16.. Alchem. MSS. V.
Distill it be ane open fyre ministring the same … vntill all the crud [sc. mercury] come away

7. intr. To minister to, to serve as servant or slave. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 24/21.
The laif of his creaturis He … has ordand … for oure seruice to serue and to minister to ws

8. a. To serve or officiate in worship. b. To serve as officiating clergyman or celebrant or as pastor or minister in, at, or to a particular charge.a. c1420 Wynt. v. 1371 (C).
That nane sulde handil it [the corporal], … Bot thai that mynystride in that degreb. a1538 Abell 91 a.
Sa he ma nocht minister to tua benefice in a tyme 1561 Edgar Hist. Dumfries App. 238.
Schir Johne Sinclair, ministrand in the service callit Sanct Niniane service in the parroch kirk of Drumfres 1572 Burns Benef. Lect. 76.
Sic as salbe admittit to serve and minister at the said kirk

c. To give one's service to, to officiate in (also intill), an office.(1) 1471 Buccleuch Mun. II. 71.
Dauid Scot and his sone … oblisis thaim that thai sall … mynister to the office of balȝery(2) 1484 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 42.
William Kempty constabil … has made … Alexander of Chavmer … his deput … to ministre in the said office of constablanary for a yer 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 498/1.
With full power to minster in the said office 1558–9 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 31. 1570 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson MS. i.
That he sall lelele and trewlie minister thairintill [the office of notary]