n. [ L. adminculum support, orig., that on which the hand rests; ad + manus hand + dim. ending -culym. ] 1. Help or support; an auxiliary. Grote. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Corroborative or explanatory proof. [ 1913 Webster ]

In Scots law, any writing tending to establish the existence or terms of a lost deed. Bell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Supplying help; auxiliary; corroborative; explanatory; as, adminicular evidence. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Adminicular. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Administered p. pr. & vb. n. Administering. ] [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

For forms of government let fools contest:
Whate'er is best administered is best. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dispense; to serve out; to supply; execute; as, to administer relief, to administer the sacrament. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Let zephyrs ] administer their tepid, genial airs. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before known. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

A noxious drug had been administered to him. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To tender, as an oath. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swear . . . to keep the oath that we administer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or whose will fails of an executor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To manage; conduct; minister; supply; dispense; give out; distribute; furnish. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To contribute; to bring aid or supplies; to conduce; to minister. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fountain . . . administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of the place. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) To perform the office of administrator; to act officially; as, A administers upon the estate of B. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Administrator. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to administration, or to the executive part of government. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being administered; as, an administrable law. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., p. pr. of administrer. See Administer. ] Executive; acting; managing affairs. -- n. One who administers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. administratus, p. p. of administrare. ] To administer. [ R. ] Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. administracioun, L. administratio: cf. F. administration. ] 1. The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction; management. [ 1913 Webster ]

His financial administration was of a piece with his military administration. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain. [ 1913 Webster ]

A mild and popular administration. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The administration has been opposed in parliament. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of administering, or tendering something to another; dispensation; as, the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of justice, or of the sacrament. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) (a) The management and disposal, under legal authority, of the estate of an intestate, or of a testator having no competent executor. (b) The management of an estate of a deceased person by an executor, the strictly corresponding term execution not being in use. [ 1913 Webster ]

Administration with the will annexed, administration granted where the testator has appointed no executor, or where his appointment of an executor for any cause has failed, as by death, incompetency, refusal to act, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Conduct; management; direction; regulation; execution; dispensation; distribution. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. administrativus: cf. F. administratif. ] Pertaining to administration; administering; executive; as, an administrative body, ability, or energy. -- Ad*min"is*tra`tive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. ] 1. One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A man who manages or settles the estate of an intestate, or of a testator when there is no competent executor; one to whom the right of administration has been committed by competent authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The position or office of an administrator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. ] A woman who administers; esp., one who administers the estate of an intestate, or to whom letters of administration have been granted; a female administrator. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Law) An administration subordinate to, and in aid of, the primary or principal administration of an estate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ From the name of the seat of the Duke of Beaufort in England. ] 1. A game, similar to lawn tennis, played with shuttlecocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A preparation of claret, spiced and sweetened. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Mal- + administration. ] Bad administration; bad management of any business, especially of public affairs. [ Written also maleadministration. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Maladministration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Previous administration. Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]