Etymologically
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embassy

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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.

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