ministress (min is tres)

[ Thus was beauty sent from Heaven, The lovely ministre of truth and good. 21. A mistre . Akenside , Pleasures of Imagination, i. The olde foxes cruell and severe mynistre e Will learne the enterer never to come forth. Benvenuto , Pa engers' Dialogues. ( Nares .) the organization of functionaries administering a branch of public affairs; a minister and his subordinates collectively: as, the ministry of war or of justice. Immediately below these three institutions stand the ministries , ten in number. D. M. Wallace, Ru ia, p. 198. ministry ship (min'is-tri-ship), n. [ ministry +-ship.] The office of a minister; ministry. Swift. [Rare.]