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embassy - 4 dictionary results
em⋅bas⋅sy
[em-buh-see]
–noun, plural -sies.
| 1. | 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
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

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To embassy
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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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Embassy
Em"bas*sy\, n.; pl. Embassies. [OF. ambass['e]e, embasc['e]e, LL. ambasciata, fr. ambasciare for ambactiare to go on a mission, fr. L. ambactus vassal, dependent, of Celtic or German origin; cf. W. amaeth husbandman, Goth. andbahts servant, G. amt office, OHG. ambaht. Cf. Ambassador.]1. The public function of an ambassador; the charge or business intrusted to an ambassador or to envoys; a public message to; foreign court concerning state affairs; hence, any solemn message. He sends the angels on embassies with his decrees. --Jer. Taylor. 2. The person or persons sent as ambassadors or envoys; the ambassador and his suite; envoys. 3. The residence or office of an ambassador. Note: Sometimes, but rarely, spelled ambassy.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : embassy
Spanish:
embajada,
German:
die Botschaft,
Japanese:
大使館
embassy
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."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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