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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.

Ministratio(u)n, n. Also: ministracio(u)n, min-, mynystracio(u)n, -tyown, mynistratioun; minstracioun; menistratioun. [ME. (a 1340) and e.m.E. mynystracyon, ministracio(u)n, -ation, obs. F. ministracion (14th c.), L. ministrātio.]

1. Service, attendance. In to mak ministratioun to, to serve, attend. 1513 Doug. xiii. ix. 19.
Feill servandis standis To mak thame ministratioun [R. minystracioun] in all curys 1534–5 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 492.
That he be in continuale scilence with all maner of man except hyme that mackis him ministratioun c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5571.
The angellis … Inueron sall that throne diuyne … Makand hym ministratioun

2. Assistance, agency. 1490 Irland Mir. II. 104/7.
The saule of man in the body has proper operacioun without help wse or ministracioun of the body

3. ? Bestowal of an ecclesiastical dignity on a person; = Collatioun n. 3. c1420 Wynt. vii. 1488.
Bot syne the byschapys off Scotland … Gaw hym mynystratyown [C. mynystracion], Confirmatyown, and blyssyn hale, Be the Papys lettrys specyall

4. Execution, dispensation, administration (of justice, judgement, the law). 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 271/2.
court … for ministratioun of justice to certane personis within the bondis of his office 1523–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 191.
That the justice generale sit in this toun of Edinburgh continualy for ministratioun of justice tharintill 1526 Liber Aberbr. 460.
For ministracioun of iustice apon personis replegyt … furth of owr said iustice ayr 1528 Orkney Antiq. Soc. VIII. 19.
I was … cumin … as Justice … for … ministratioun of justice of the inhabitantis thereof 1533 Bell. Livy II. 88/19.
The dictatour … commandit the ministratioun of lawis to ceis 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 78.
At twa howris efter nuyn … quhilk is the howr of caws for ministracion of justice 1562–3 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 324/2. c1575 Balfour Pract. 44. a1578 Pitsc. I. 90/3. 1597 Skene Verb. S. (1599) s.v. Iter. 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xcvii.
For the maintaining of His Kirk and ministration of justice

5. Dispensation, administration (of sacraments, the word of God, etc.).(a) 1456 Hay I. 237/6.
Ministracioun of sacramentis 1559 Statut. Sc. Ch. 190.
Ye vicaris [etc.] … that ar employit in the ministratioun of the blyssit sacrament 1560 Bk. Disc. 196. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 15/2.
Nane suld tak the … ministratioun of Godis word and sacramentis on him except he be lauchfullie callit thairto 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 277. 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 51.
For ministratioun of Goddis worde 1574 Sc. Ant. XIII. 31.
The maner of the holie communion, … the ministration to begyne at sex 1592 Elgin Rec. II. 23. 1617 Burns Benef. Lect. 137. 1623 Cramond Moray Synod 3. 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xcvii.
Everie brother [is] to provyd … again the nixt assemblie the instruments of holy ministration(b) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 289.
Gif the powere … of minstracioun of the sacramentis falȝeit(c) 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 125.
Tua ellis lynnyng clayth to be tua hand claythis to the menistratioun of baptisme

6. absol. Ministration as a minister of religion, the execution of the duties of a ministerial charge. 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 368.
Gar uicaris mak dew mynistratioun c1552 Id. Mon. 4443.
Thay gan to be negligent In makyng ministratioun To Christis trew congregatioun 1562-3 Winȝet I. 106/30.
Giff ȝe failȝeit in ȝour office of ministration Ib. II. 34/27.
He wes promotit to the dignitie of preistheid, and certane tyme maid ministratioun thair as a catholik 1568 Peebles B. Rec. I. 74.
Being found qualifiit to serf and mak ministratioun in the Kirk of God 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI. 92. 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 6.
Quhat kirk ar presentlie providit and quhat kirk destitute … of ministratioun

7. Dispensation, administration (of a medicine). Also fig. 1572 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. A. iiij b.
The wyse and trustie medecineris … do not luke sa mekle (in ministratioun of thair phisik)fig. 1533 Gau 107/2.
The vangel is the ministratione of liff the quhilk rasis and quiknis ȝour fleyit conscience

8. a. The performance or execution of the duties of an office. b. Administration, management (of a bishopric, a state). Wrang ministration, corrupt management, maladministration.a. 1466 Acta Aud. 3/2.
The said Alane sall ces of the execucione & ministracion of the said office 1480 Acta Conc. I. 53/1.
The said Johne Lawmondsoun bailȝe deput has done wrang in the ministracion of his officeb. a1500 Henr. Orph. 224.
Bischopis in thair pontificall Be symony for wrang ministration 1531 Bell. Boece I. 225.
Angusiane … alledgit he … wes abillar, thairfore, for the ministration of the realme