Etymology Map
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Administer

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to manage; to give a drug

Where does the word "administer" come from? It comes from Latin administrare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
administrare
Latin · ancient
"to serve, manage"
'ad-' plus 'ministrare', to serve
2
Stage 2 of 3
aministrer
Old French · medieval
"to manage"
used for administering the sacraments as well as justice
3
Stage 3 of 3
administer
English · 1300s
"to manage"
'administration' as government dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Administer’s story begins in Latin: administrare meant “to serve, manage.” 'ad-' plus 'ministrare', to serve. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as aministrer. Used for administering the sacraments as well as justice. It reached English by 1300s as administer. 'administration' as government dates from the 1700s. Today, administer means to manage; to give a drug.