a body of persons entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, esp. an ambassador and his or her staff.
2.
the official headquarters of an ambassador.
3.
the function or office of an ambassador.
4.
a mission headed by an ambassador.
Origin: 1570–80; var. of ambassy < MF ambassee, OF ambasce, ambaxee ≪ OPr ambaissada, deriv. of embayssar to send a delegate < ML ambasciāre, deriv. of ambascia service, office, deriv., by a Gmc intermediary (cf. Goth andbahti, OHG ambahti) of Gallo-L ambactus retainer, servant (< Gaulish, equiv. to amb- around, ambi-+ -act- verbal adj. of *ag- drive, lead; cf. act, Welsh amaeth husbandman); cf. ambassador
1579, from M.Fr. embassee "mission, charge, office of ambassador," from It. ambasciata, from O.Prov. ambaisada "office of ambassador," from Gaul. *ambactos "dependant, vassal," lit. "one going around."