Administration with the will annexed

Administration \Ad*min`is*tra"tion\ (?; 277), 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.
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            His financial administration was of a piece with his
            military administration.              --Macaulay.
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   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.
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            A mild and popular administration.    --Macaulay.
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            The administration has been opposed in parliament.
                                                  --Johnson.
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   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.
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   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.
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   {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.
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   Syn: Conduct; management; direction; regulation; execution;
        dispensation; distribution.
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