mĭnistro, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [minister], to attend, wait upon, serve, esp. at table, to serve up, pour out, hand food or drink (syn.: servio, appareo, praebeo, suggero; class.).
I Lit.
α With dat.: Acastum retine, quo commodius tibi ministretur, Cic. Fam. 16, 14, 2: cui matronam ministrasse compererat, Suet. Aug. 45.—
β With acc.: nosmet inter nos ministremus, Plaut. Stich. 5, 4, 7.—
γ Absol. : hic ministrabit dum ego edam, Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 90.—
II Transf., to take care of, manage, govern, direct; and, in gen., to provide, furnish, supply, give, afford : ministrare (naves) velis, of the steersman, Verg. A. 6, 302: naves nec velis ministrantur, nec, etc., Tac. G. 44: ministrare victum alicui, Varr. R. R. 3, 17, 6: viros et arma alicui, Tac. H. 4, 12: prolem, to give, present, produce , Tib. 2, 2, 21: ministrabant ei de facultatibus suis, Vulg. Luc. 8, 3: faces furiis Clodianis, Cic. Pis. 11, 26: equus terga ministrat (for mounting), Val. Fl. 6, 216: jussa medicorum, to execute , Ov. H. 20, 133.—Also of inanim. subjects: sarmentum colibus sucum ministrat, Varr. R. R. 1, 31, 2: (vinum) verba ministrat, Hor. Ep. 1, 15, 20: luna ministrat equis, serves them, lights them on their way , Prop. 3, 14, 15: reges ministrabunt tibi, Vulg. Isa. 60, 10; id. Act. 20, 34.