diplomatic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Modern Latin diplomaticus (1680s), and in the later senses from French diplomatique,^[2][3][4] from diplomat-, the stem of Latin diploma (“a state letter of recommendation”) (see diploma),^[2][3] from Greek δίπλωμα (díplōma, “a licence, chart; a paper folded double”), from diploûn, to double, from diplóos, double.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of official or original documents, texts or charters: 1711.^[2][5][4]

Semantic evolution

Of official papers connected with international relations it is from 1780.^[5] Concerned with the management of international relations is from 1787,^[2][5] a sense that apparently grew from the use of Modern Latin diplomaticus in the titles of collections of treaties, where it referred to the texts but came to be felt as meaning international.^[2][4] Skilled in negotiation, tactful, is from 1826.^[2][5] Diplomatic immunity is attested by 1849.^[2] Of a copy, reproducing the original exactly, is a scholarly sense.^[6]

Timeline

• 1680s – Modern Latin diplomaticus.^[2]
• 1711 – of documents.^[5]
• 1787 – of international relations.^[5]
• 1826 – tactful.^[5]
• 1849 – diplomatic immunity.^[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Of or relating to diplomacy or diplomats.
2. Tactful and sensitive in dealing with people.
3. Of or relating to diplomatics, the study of old documents.
4. Of a copy, exactly reproducing the original.

Word family

• diplomatically
• diplomatist
• nondiplomatic
• undiplomatic
• diplomatic corps
• diplomatic immunity
• diplomatic pouch

Related words

• diplomacy
• diplomat
• diploma
• double

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin