Administer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Administered; p. pr. & vb. n. Administering.]
Etymology: [OE. aministren, OF. aministrer, F. administer, fr. L. administrare; ad + ministrare to serve. See Minister.]
1. To manage or conduct, as public affairs; to direct or superintend the execution, application, or conduct of; as, to administer the government or the state. For forms of government let fools contest: Whate'er is best administered is best. Pope.
2. To dispense; to serve out; to supply; execute; as, to administer relief, to administer the sacrament. [Let zephyrs] administer their tepid, genial airs. Philips. Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before known. Macaulay.
3. To apply, as medicine or a remedy; to give, as a dose or something beneficial or suitable. Extended to a blow, a reproof, etc. A noxious drug had been administered to him. Macaulay.
4. To tender, as an oath. Swear . . . to keep the oath that we administer. Shak.
3 more senses
5. (Law)
To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or whose will fails of an executor.
Syn. -- To manage; conduct; minister; supply; dispense; give out; distribute; furnish.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Administer, v. i.
1. To contribute; to bring aid or supplies; to conduce; to minister. A fountain . . . administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of the place. Spectator.
2. (Law)
To perform the office of administrator; to act officially; as, A administers upon the estate of B.
Administer, n.
Administrator. [Obs.] Bacon.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for administer; he lists it under execute.
Where he writes about it:
To execute is to follow through to the end, put into absolute and final effect in action; to administer is to conduct as one holding a trust, as a minister and not an originator; the sheriff executes a writ; the trustee administers an estate, a charity, etc.; to enforce is to put into effect by force, actual or potential. — from execute
To administer the laws is the province of a court of justice; to execute the laws is the province of a sheriff, marshal, constable, or other executive officer; to administer the law is to declare or apply it; to execute the law is to put it in force; for this enforce is the more general word, execute the more specific. — from execute
From signifying to superintend officially some application or infliction, administer passes by a natural transition to signify inflict, mete out, dispense, and blows, medicine, etc., are said to be administered: a usage thoroughly established and reputable in spite of pedantic objections. — from execute