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ambassador
ambassador definition
am·bas·sa·dor (am bas′ə dər, -dôr′)
noun
- the highest-ranking diplomatic representative appointed by one country or government to represent it in another
- a special representative: an ambassador-at-large is one accredited to no particular country; an ambassador extraordinary is one on a special diplomatic mission; an ambassador plenipotentiary is one having the power to make treaties
- an official agent with a special mission
- an unofficial representative or messenger an ambassador of goodwill
Etymology: ME ambassatour < MFr ambassateur < OIt ambasciatore < Prov ambaissador < *ambaissa, mission, task < Goth andbahti, office, service < Celt *amb(i)actos, a messenger, servant (> L ambactus, a vassal) < IE *ambhi-, about (see ambi-) + base *aĝ-, to do (see act)
Related Forms:
- ambassadorial am·bas′·sa·do′·rial (-dôr′ē əl) adjective
- ambassadorship am·bas′·sa·dor·ship′ noun
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