administer
UK: ədˈmɪnɪstə | US: ədˈmɪnɪstər
vt. to manage or oversee the execution of (e.g., a government, organization, or system)
vt. to dispense or apply (e.g., justice, medicine, or a test)
vi. to perform duties of management or service
administer = ad<to, toward> + minist<serve> + er<agent suffix>
- ad: Latin prefix meaning "to" or "toward," indicating direction or addition.
- minist: From Latin ministrare ("to serve, attend"), derived from minister ("servant").
- er: Agentive suffix denoting a person or thing performing an action.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin administrare, combining ad- (intensifying direction) and ministrare (to serve). Originally tied to service (e.g., assisting a superior), it evolved to mean "manage" as governance required serving public needs. The shift reflects how authority roles historically merged service with control.
She was appointed to administer the new department efficiently.
Nurses administer vaccines to patients during flu season.
The judge must administer justice impartially.
He struggled to administer the project within the tight deadline.
The software helps administrators administer network resources.