min·is·tries n. pl.
1.a. The act of serving; ministration.
b. One that serves as a means; an instrumentality.
2.a. The profession, duties, and services of a minister.
b. The Christian clergy.
c. The period of service of a minister.
3.a. A governmental department presided over by a minister.
b. The building in which such a department is housed.
c. The duties, functions, or term of a governmental minister.
d. often Ministry Governmental ministers considered as a group.

[Middle English ministerie, from Old French ministere, from Latin ministerium, from minister, servant. See mei-2 in Indo-European Roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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