(verb) : ad-mĭnistro, āvi, ātum, 1
* Lit., to be near as an aid, to attend upon, to assist, to serve (ministrum esse ad aliquam rem): conductam esse eam, quae hic administraret ad rem divinam tibi,Plaut. Ep. 3, 3, 37: omnia per sacerdotes administrabuntur,Vulg. Num. 18, 7: David in sua generatione cum administrasset,ib. Act. 13, 36: mel ad principia convivii et in secundam mensam administratur,is served up,Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 5.—Hence, with esp. ref. to the object
* Fig., to take charge of, to manage, guide, administer, execute, accomplish, do, perform, etc. (the most usual signif. of this word; very freq. in Cic. and the histt.): a nobis omnia populi R. semper et belli adjumenta et pacis ornamenta administrata sunt,Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 47; so, provinciam,to govern,id. ib. 2, 4, 64: leges et judicia,id. Div. in Caecil. 22: rem publicam,id. Off. 1, 25; so Liv. 6, 6, 11; cf. Drak. Liv. 6, 6, 11: bellum,Cic. Imp. Pomp. 2; id. Div. 2, 36 (a military t. t.); cf. with exercitus,id. Inv. 1, 34, 58; Herz. ad Caes. B. G. 2, 20, and Cortius ad Sall. J. 92, 9; Caes. B. G. 5, 50; id. B. C. 1, 25, 26; Nep. Chabr. 2; id. Eum. 5 al.: rem familiarem,Cic. Inv. 1, 25: negotium alicujus,id. Fam. 13, 11: neque ab uno omnia imperia administrari poterant,be issued, given,Caes. B. G. 2, 22: classem,id. B. C. 3, 18: navem,to guide, steer,id. ib. 3, 14: legionarii, qui dextram partem operis administrabant,i. e. who conducted the siege on the right side,id. ib. 2, 8: illustriores legationes,Nep. Dion. 1: oppida et fines alicujus,Sall. J. 22; cf. also Suet. Caes. 76; id. Tib. 8; id. Vitell. 5; id. Vesp. 4; so absol. (the acc. must be supplied from that which precedes): neque administrandi (sc. navigium) neque repellendi facultas dabatur,Hirt. B. Al. 21: milites neque pro opere consistere neque inter vineas sine periculo administrare poterant,nor ... pursue their work without peril,Sall. J. 92, 9: si celeriter administraverint (sc. hoc opus),Vitr. 1, 5, p. 19 Rod. (others translate administrare in this place, to put the hand to, to render service, to do one's duty, etc.).—Unus.: virtutem, innocentiam, diligentiam alicujus, to employ, Cato ap. Cic. Fam. 15, 5.

s. TLL