Adjacent Words

Embassy definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EM'BASSY, n.
1. The message or public function of an embassador; the charge or employment of a public minister, whether ambassador or envoy; the word signifies the message or commission itself, and the person or persons sent to convey or to execute it. We say the king sent an embassy, meaning an envoy,minister, or ministers; or the king sent a person on an embassy. The embassy consisted of three envoys. The embassy was instructed to inquire concerning the king's disposition.
2. A solemn message.
Eighteen centuries ago, the gospel went forth from Jerusalem on an embassy of mingled authority and love.
3. Ironically, an errand.
[The old orthography, ambassade, ambassage, being obsolete, and embassy established, I have rendered the orthography of embassador conformable to it in the initial letter.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a diplomatic building where ambassadors live or work
2: an ambassador and his entourage collectively

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -sies) Etymology: Middle French ambassee, ultimately of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German ambaht service Date: 1534 1. a body of diplomatic representatives; specifically one headed by an ambassador 2. a. the function or position of an ambassador b. a mission abroad undertaken officially especially by an ambassador 3. embassage 1 4. the official residence and offices of an ambassador

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -ies) 1 a the residence or offices of an ambassador. b the ambassador and staff attached to an embassy. 2 a deputation or mission to a foreign country. Etymology: earlier ambassy f. OF ambassée etc. f. med.L ambasciata f. Rmc (as AMBASSADOR)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(embassies) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. An embassy is a group of government officials, headed by an ambassador, who represent their government in a foreign country. The building in which they work is also called an embassy. The American Embassy has already complained... Mr Cohen held discussions at the embassy with one of the rebel leaders. N-COUNT: oft the adj N

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Commission, mission, ambassadorial office or function. 2. Legation, ambassadors. 3. Ambassadorial residence, legation.

Moby Thesaurus

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