Wordnet 3.0
ADJECTIVE (2)
1.
of or relating to a minister of religion or the minister's office;
- Example: "ministerial duties"2.
of or relating to a government minister or ministry;
- Example: "ministerial decree"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ministerial \Min`is*te"ri*al\, a. [L. ministerialis: cf. F.
minist['e]riel. See Minister, and cf. Minstrel.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Of or pertaining to ministry or service; serving;
attendant.
[1913 Webster]
Enlightening spirits and ministerial flames.
--Prior.
[1913 Webster]
2. Of or pertaining to the office of a minister or to the
ministry as a body, whether civil or sacerdotal.
"Ministerial offices." --Bacon. "A ministerial measure."
--Junius. "Ministerial garments." --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
3. Tending to advance or promote; contributive. "Ministerial
to intellectual culture." --De Quincey.
[1913 Webster]
The ministerial benches, the benches in the House of
Commons occupied by members of the cabinet and their
supporters; -- also, the persons occupying them. "Very
solid and very brilliant talents distinguish the
ministerial benches." --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Official; priestly; sacerdotal; ecclesiastical.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ministerial
adj 1: of or relating to a minister of religion or the
minister's office; "ministerial duties"
2: of or relating to a government minister or ministry;
"ministerial decree"