subminister

English

Etymology

From the Latin subministrō, sumministrō (equivalent to English sub- +‎ minister).

Verb

subminister (third-person singular simple present subministers, present participle subministering, simple past and past participle subministered)

1. (archaic) to supply; to administer
   • a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC:

     subminister the principal and predominant Matter for those great and vaſt Luminaries

2. (archaic) to be subservient (to)
   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:

     Our passions […] subminister to the best and worst purposes.

Noun

subminister (plural subministers)

1. a subordinate minister