administer
Definitions
To manage or be in charge of running an organization, system, or process
管理；负责执行
To give or apply medicine, a treatment, a test, or punishment
施用（药物）；给予（治疗、考试、惩罚等）
Root Breakdown
Native Englishad- (to) + minister (servant). A minister was originally a 'lesser one' — a servant (minu 'less'), the opposite of magister, the 'greater one' (master). To administer is literally to serve toward someone: to run things on their behalf, and by extension to hand out medicine, tests, or justice.
Root minu still carries 49 more wordsWhy It Means This
The two meanings (manage / give out) share one image: a servant carrying out a task on someone's authority. Whether you 'administer a department' or 'administer a drug,' you are the one executing the action under a higher purpose. The minu ('less') in minister captures the original sense of a subordinate doing the work.
Common Collocations
- 1.administer first aid实施急救
- 2.administer medicine施用药物
- 3.administer a test组织考试
- 4.administer justice执行司法
Example Sentences
- 1.
A board of trustees administers the foundation's funds.
- 2.
The nurse administered the vaccine to each child.
- 3.
Teachers will administer the exam on Monday.