Administer v.

Also 4 amynistre, 5 ammynyster, 5–6 admynystre, -er. [a. OFr. aministre-r, a semi-popular adaptation of L. administrā-re, 1. to minister to (any one), 2. to manage; f. ad to + ministrāre to serve, to MINISTER. In 14th c. the Fr. began to be refashioned after L., as administrer, and this spelling soon became the only one in Eng.]

  1.  trans. To manage as a steward, to carry on, or execute (an office, affairs, etc.); to manage the affairs of (an institution, town, etc.)

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. (1868), 135. He [God] amynistreþ in many maneres and in dyuerse tymes by destyne, þilke same þinges þat he haþ disponed.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiv. (1483), 82. The gouernement of a reame shold be admynystred and executed by suche as were of grettest bounte.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviathan, III. xlii. 291. They that administer the secular affairs of the Church.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 242. I could never learn how, or by whom, that charity is administered.

1865.  Grote, Plato, I. xix. 564. Pericles administered Athens.

1868.  M. Pattison, Academ. Organ., § 4, 109. Each college has one or more bursars who administer the finances.

  b.  absol.

1866.  Motley, Dutch Rep., IV. i. 546. Much incapacity to govern was revealed in this inordinate passion to administer.

  2.  Law. To manage and dispose of the goods and estate of a deceased person, either under a will, or by official appointment under Letters of Administration.

c. 1430.  Polit. Rel. & Love Poems, 29. Peyse wisely the besynes and the purpose of them wich ammynyster thy goodes.

1809.  Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Executor, The Ordinary shall depute the nearest and most lawful friends of the deceased to administer his goods.

  b.  absol. To act officially as an executor or administrator.

1602.  Fulbecke, First Pt. Parallele, 44. Hee shall not haue an action of debt against the executour of his coexecutour, although the partie indebted did not administer in his lifetime.

1714.  [Arbuthnot & Pope], M. Scriblerus (1741), 9 (J.). Mr. Neale’s Order was never performed, because the Executors durst not administer.

1870.  Pinkerton, Guide to Administr., 9. When a stranger is about to administer, a renunciation should be obtained in writing from those who are by law entitled.

  3.  trans. To execute or dispense (justice).

1509.  Fisher, Wks., 1876, 297. And admynystre ryght and Iustyce to euery party.

1876.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. viii. 286. The citizens disliked the rule of William on account of the strict justice which he administered.

  4.  trans. To execute or perform (offices of religion); to dispense (a sacrament). A rare obs. const. is (of a person) To be administered: to receive the sacrament.

1495.  Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de Worde), I. xlii. 70 a b. I neuer receyued hym syth I was admynystred in the chyrche of saynt Johan.

1585.  Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 252. We in our churches have both the gospel preached, and the sacraments … administered.

1611.  Bible, 2 Cor. viii. 19. This grace which is administred by vs.

1735.  Wesley, Wks., 1872, I. 17. I … administered the Lord’s Supper to six or seven communicants.

1855.  Prescott, Philip II., I. ix. (1857), 175. It was thought proper to administer extreme unction to him.

  b.  absol.

1590.  Greenwood, in Conferences, III. 57. By the Bishops calling, you administer, and by none other.

1634.  J. Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 33. A true vocation and calling by … ordination of that faithful people where he is to administer.

  5.  To tender (an oath to any one).

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 182. Sweare by the duty that you owe to heauen … To keepe the Oath that we administer.

1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), IV. i. 4. To administer an oath to a man.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. Tales (1816), I. 223. The oath, which has just been administered to you.

  6.  To apply or perform (any branch of the healing art). Obs. exc. as, To give (medicine to).

1541.  R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 C i. They that by reason & Methode admynyster the arte of medycyne do cure y^e vlceres.

1667.  Phil. Trans., II. 537. The Physitians administring this operation.

1743.  trans. Heister’s Surg., 277. His Attendants should stand ready to administer the Dressings.

1747.  in Col. Rec. Penn., V. 136. I administer’d the Medicines to Shikalimy.

1804.  Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 109. If a surgeon … administers mercury in one of the diseases.

  b.  absol.

1845.  Ford, Handbk. Spain, i. 47. The patient however must administer to himself.

  7.  Hence fig. To dispense, furnish, supply or give (anything beneficial, or assumed to be beneficial, to the recipient; extended humorously to a rebuke, a blow, etc.) Const. to.

1489.  Caxton, Fayt of Armes, III. xxi. 219. Euery noble man shulde peyne him self after hys powere to administre unto him helthe of witte and aduyse.

1628.  Digby, Voy. Medit., 56. A place that administred meanes of such debauchednesse.

1713.  Steele, Englishm., No. 38, 243. The Joy which this Temper of Soul administers.

1789–96.  J. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 296. These annual orations administered fuel to the fire of liberty.

1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, III. vii. (1876), 377. She kept him by her side to nurse the baby and administer posset to the Gossips.

1865.  Morn. Star, 31 March. By invading the North he might administer his old antagonists another severe blow.

  b.  intr. (obj. omitted.) To contribute beneficially, to minister to.

1712.  Spectator, No. 477, ¶ 1. A Fountain … administers to the Pleasure, as well as the Plenty of the Place.

1779.  J. Moore, View of Society, xiv. (1789), I. 99. Who are supposed to administer to the King’s pleasures.

1872.  R. Anderson, Missions Amer. Board, I. xi. 164. His recovery was so rapid that he was soon able to administer to the comfort of his associates at sea.