embassy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛmbəsi/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French embassée (“mission, office of an ambassador”),^[2][3][4] from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Occitan ambaisada (“office of an ambassador”),^[3][2] going back to Latin ambactus, servant, vassal,^[5][6] from Gaulish *ambaktos (“dependant, vassal”), literally one going around.^[3][2] Etymonline derives this from PIE *ambhi-, around, and *ag-, to drive.^[3] In early use it was also ambassy, which shows its relation to ambassador.^[7][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The function or office of an ambassador, and the sending of ambassadors: 1579.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

Earlier forms were ambassade (early 15th century) and embassade (late 15th century), from an Old French variant.^[3] The message delivered by an ambassador is an obsolete sense of 1595.^[8] The body of persons sent on a mission is from 1671.^[8] The official residence and office of an ambassador is from 1764.^[3][2]

Timeline

• early 15th century – ambassade.^[3]
• 1579 – office of an ambassador.^[2]
• 1595 – an ambassador's message.^[8]
• 1671 – a body of envoys.^[8]
• 1764 – an ambassador's residence.^[3][2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The building with the offices, or residence, of an ambassador and staff.
2. The position or function of an ambassador.
3. A mission to a foreign government headed by an ambassador.
4. An ambassador and his or her staff.

Related words

• ambassador
• ambassadress

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press