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AMBASSADOR

 - 4 dictionary results

am⋅bas⋅sa⋅dor

[am-bas-uh-der, -dawr]
–noun
1. a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative (ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary).
2. a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.
3. a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization.
4. an authorized messenger or representative. Abbreviation: Amb., amb.

Origin:
1325–75; ME am-, embass(i)adour, imbassadore < AF ambassateur, ambassaduer < It ambassatore, dial. It ambassadore, equiv. to ambass- (see embassy ) -atore, -adore < L -ātōrem acc. of -ātor -ator


am⋅bas⋅sa⋅do⋅ri⋅al [am-bas-uh-dawr-ee-uhl, -dohr-] , adjective
am⋅bas⋅sa⋅do⋅ri⋅al⋅ly, adverb
am⋅bas⋅sa⋅dor⋅ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To AMBASSADOR
am·bas·sa·dor   (ām-bās'ə-dər, -dôr')   
n.  
  1. A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.

  2. A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.

  3. An authorized messenger or representative.

  4. An unofficial representative: ambassadors of goodwill.


[Middle English ambassadour, from Old French ambassadeur, from Medieval Latin ambactia, mission, from Latin ambactus, servant, ultimately of Celtic origin; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
am·bas'sa·do'ri·al (-dôr'ē-əl, -dōr'-) adj., am·bas'sa·dor·ship' n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ambassador 
c.1374, from M.Fr. ambassadeur, from O.Fr. embassator, via Prov. or O.Sp. from L. ambactus "a servant, vassal," from Celt. amb(i)actos "a messenger, servant," from PIE *ambhi- "about" *ag- "drive, lead." Cf. embassy. Forms in am- and em- were used indiscriminately 17c.-18c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Ambassador

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _tsir_, meaning "one who goes on an errand," is rendered thus (Josh. 9:4; Prov. 13:17; Isa. 18:2; Jer. 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of _melits_, meaning "an interpreter," in 2 Chr. 32:31; and of _malak_, a "messenger," in 2 Chr. 35:21; Isa. 30:4; 33:7; Ezek. 17:15. This is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by God to declare his will (2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 6:20). The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances (Josh. 9:4), to solicit favours (Num. 20:14), to remonstrate when wrong was done (Judg. 11:12), to condole with a young king on the death of his father (2 Sam. 10:2), and to congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1 Kings 5:1). To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent him (2 Sam. 10:5).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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