noun
- a sending out or being sent out with authority to perform a special service; specif.,
- the sending out of persons by a religious organization to preach, teach, and convert
- the sending out of persons to a foreign government to conduct negotiations
- the work done by such persons
- a group of persons sent by a religious body to spread its religion, esp. in a foreign land
- its organization, headquarters, or place of residency
- organized missionary work
- a group of persons sent to a foreign government to conduct negotiations; diplomatic delegation; embassy
- a group of technicians, specialists, etc. sent to a foreign country
- the special duty or function for which someone is sent as a messenger or representative; errand
- the special task or purpose for which a person is apparently destined in life; calling
- any charitable, educational, or religious organization for helping persons in need
- a series of special religious services designed to increase faith or bring about conversion
- a district without a church of its own, served by a nearby church
- ☆ Mil. a specific combat operation assigned to an individual or unit; esp., a single combat flight by an airplane or group of airplanes
Origin:
L missio, a sending, sending away < missus, pp. of mittere, to send < IE base *smeit-, to throw > Avestan hamista-, cast down