administer

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To have charge of; manage.
2. v. To give or apply in a formal way: administer the last rites.
3. v. To apply as a remedy: administer a sedative.
4. v. To direct the taking of (an oath).
5. v. To mete out; dispense: administer justice.
6. v. To manage or dispose of (a trust or estate) under a will or official appointment.
7. v. To impose, offer, or tender (an oath, for example).
8. v. To manage as an administrator.
9. v. To minister: administering to their every whim.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To manage or conduct as minister, chief agent, or steward; super-intend the management or execution of; control or regulate in behalf of others: as, to administer the laws or the government, or a department of government; to administer a charitable trust, the affairs of a corporation, or the estate of a bankrupt.
2. To afford; supply; dispense; bring into use or operation, especially in the execution of a magisterial or sacerdotal office: as, to administer relief; to administer justice.
3. To give or apply; make application of: as, to administer medicine, punishment, counsel, etc.
4. To tender or impose, as an oath.
5. In law, to manage or dispose of, as the estate of a deceased person, in the capacity either of executor or administrator. See administration, 9. Synonyms To control, preside over.
6. To contribute assistance; bring aid or supplies; add something: with to: as, to administer to the necessities of the poor.
7. To perform the office of administrator: with upon: as, A administers upon the estate of B. Synonyms Administer to, Minister to. Minister to is now preferable to administer to in such connections as to minister to one's needs, to minister to the necessities of the poor, to minister to the pleasure of the assembly. Administer to in such connections is archaic.
8. n. One who administers; a minister or an administrator.

Wiktionary

1. v. transitive To cause to take, either by openly offering or through deceit.
2. v. transitive To apportion out, as in administering justice.
3. v. transitive To manage or supervise the conduct, performance or execution of; to govern or regulate the parameters for the conduct, performance or execution of; to work in an administrative capacity.
4. v. intransitive To minister to, as in administering to the sick.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To manage or conduct, as public affairs; to direct or superintend the execution, application, or conduct of.
2. v. To dispense; to serve out; to supply; execute.
3. v. To apply, as medicine or a remedy; to give, as a dose or something beneficial or suitable. Extended to a blow, a reproof, etc.
4. v. To tender, as an oath.
5. v. (Law) To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or whose will fails of an executor.
6. v. To contribute; to bring aid or supplies; to conduce; to minister.
7. v. (Law) To perform the office of administrator; to act officially.
8. n. obsolete Administrator.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. administer or bestow, as in small portions
2. v. give or apply (medications)
3. v. perform (a church sacrament) ritually
4. v. work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
5. v. direct the taking of