DictionaryministerProviding care
verb

minister

To attend to someone's needs.

The nurse ministers to the needs of each patient.

Etymology

The Latin verb means to serve or attend upon someone. Minister preserves that service meaning when it describes providing help or meeting another person's needs.

More examples

  • She ministered to her sick father throughout his recovery.
  • Volunteers minister to families displaced by the flood.
  • He spends his evenings ministering to his neighbors' needs.

Forms

minister · ministers · ministered · ministering

ministration noun — The act of providing care or assistance.

Similar words

tend
Emphasizes practical attention to someone's immediate needs or condition.
care
More common and general; often implies continuing responsibility.