'administratress' originates from the Latin word 'administrare,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'ministrare' meant 'to serve.'

'administrare' transformed into the Old French word 'administrer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'administrator,' with 'administratress' as a gender-specific variant.

Initially, it meant 'to serve or manage,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.