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ambassador
6 dictionary results for: ambassador
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
am·bas·sa·dor       [am-bas-uh-der, -dawr] Pronunciation Key
–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-] Pronunciation Key, adjective
am·bas·sa·do·ri·al·ly, adverb
am·bas·sa·dor·ship, noun
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
am·bas·sa·dor       (ām-bās'ə-dər, -dôr')  Pronunciation Key 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
ambassador

noun
1. a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another 
2. an informal representative; "an ambassador of good will" 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ambassador

Am*bas"sa*dor\, Embassador \Em*bas"sa*dor\, n. [See Embassador.]

1. A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign court to represent there his sovereign or country.

Note: Ambassadors are either ordinary [or resident] or extraordinary, that is, sent upon some special or unusual occasion or errand. --Abbott.

2. An official messenger and representative.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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).

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