[a. L. administrātor n. of agent, f. administrāre: see ADMINISTER Cf. Fr. administrateur (16th c. in Litt.).]
1. One who administers; one who manages, carries on, or directs the affairs of any establishment or institution; a steward, manager or acting governor.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, III. (1822), 306. Quhilk is ane richt proffittabil thing in administratoris of grete materis.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. I. 177. Jesus Christ … is Gods Administrator General of the humane world.
1705. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), V. 627. Danish troops were marching to dislodge the forces of the administrator of Holstein.
1859. Mill, Liberty, v. (1865), 68/1. The administrators of the Poor Rate throughout the country.
1880. Morning Post, 15 April, 5/4. The acting administrator of Griqualand West has informed a deputation that in a new mining ordinance a clause giving fixity of tenure to claim holders has been introduced.
2. absol. One who has the faculty of managing or organizing. Cf. manager.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 14. All the implements of war had been largely provided by Louvois, the first of living administrators.
1870. Standard, 16 Nov., 5/6. What is really wanted for the pacification of Marseilles is a new superior administrator.
3. One who executes or performs the official duties of religion, justice, etc.; one who dispenses or ministers to the public in such matters.
1563. Man, Musculus’ Com. Places, 272 b. We bee not makers of sacramentes, but administrators of them.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 95. The Holiness which is the ground for the Administrator to baptize.
1865. Maule, in Cornh. Mag., Oct., 429. The answers to them by the judges may embarrass the administrators of justice.
b. One who applies, proffers or gives anything.
1828. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1846, I. xxxvi. 227. Bonds may hold the weak; the stronger break them, and strangle the administrator.
4. One to whom authority is given to manage estates, etc., for the legal owner during his minority, incapacity, etc.; a trustee, a steward. esp. in Sc. Law. ‘A person legally empowered to act for another whom the law presumes incapable of acting for himself’ (Encycl. Brit.), as the father of children under age.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 53. To be administrators of Abbeys, Bishopricks and other benefices.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 217 (J.). Whether he did hold it in his owne Right, or as Administrator to his Daughter.
5. A person officially appointed to manage and dispose of the estate of one who dies without appointing executors, or whose appointed executors cannot or do not act; an executor dative.
1514. Fitzherbert, Justyce of Peas (1538), 127. Yf any person having shepe of his owne happen to be made executor or administratour.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 12. Administrator is he to whom the Ordinary committeth the administration of goods of a dead man for default of an Executor.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 455. Would not trust them to the custody of a careless heir, or mercenary administrator.
1870. Pinkerton, Guide to Administr., 11. The administrator must bear in mind that he has nothing to do with the real estate of decedent.
