noun
- the highest-ranking diplomatic representative appointed by one country or government to represent it in another
- a special representative: an is one accredited to no particular country; an is one on a special diplomatic mission; an is one having the power to make treaties
- an official agent with a special mission
- an unofficial representative or messenger: an ambassador of goodwill
Origin:
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)