Where does “minister” come from?

minister (Middle English) comes from Middle English ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister, from Latin minus, from Proto-Italic minos — less.

minister (Middle English): Alternative form of ministre; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of ministre; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “minister”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishministreA hireling or secretary; one who serves and...
2Old Frenchministre—
3Latinministerattendant, servant, waiter; agent, aide;...
4Latinminusnominative neuter singular of minor; accusative...
5Proto-Italicminosless
Every word from Proto-Italic minos →Every word from Latin minus →Every word from Latin minister →