Meaning

A ministering angel shall my sister be

Categorised in: A list of phrases about family ·Phrases coined by Shakespeare - Hamlet ·135 Phrases coined by William Shakespeare ·A list of phrases about religion

What's the meaning of the phrase 'A ministering angel shall my sister be'?

To minister is to serve, or act as a subordinate agent. So a ministering angel is a kind-hearted person, providing help and comfort.

A ministering angel shall my sister be
A ministering angel shall my sister be - caption

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘A ministering angel shall my sister be’?

From Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 1602:

LAERTES:
Lay her i’ the earth:
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
A ministering angel shall my sister be,
When thou liest howling.

Historical trend

“ministering angel shall my sister” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1820–2020).

18201840186018801900192019401960198020002020
  • ministering angel shall my sister