emissary
Americannoun
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a representative sent on a mission or errand.
emissaries to negotiate a peace.
- Synonyms:
- legate, envoy, ambassador, delegate
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an agent sent on a mission of a secret nature, as a spy.
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Anatomy. sending or coming out, as certain veins that pass through the skull and connect the venous sinuses inside with the veins outside.
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pertaining to an emissary.
adjective
noun
-
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an agent or messenger sent on a mission, esp one who represents a government or head of state
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( as modifier )
an emissary delegation
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an agent sent on a secret mission, as a spy
adjective
Etymology
Origin of emissary
1595–1605; < Latin ēmissārius one sent out, equivalent to ēmiss- ( see emission) + -ārius -ary
Explanation
When presidents can’t attend state funerals, they send an emissary to pay their respects. An emissary performs a specific job on someone else’s behalf. Emissary is a word you hear often around governments, but anyone can be one or have one. Say, if you’re feeling too lazy to get off the couch you could appoint your little sister to be your emissary in fetching ice cream from the kitchen.
Vocabulary lists containing emissary
Things Fall Apart
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Send a Message: Mit and Miss
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American Born Chinese
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Emissary finished second, while High Emocean fought back from last place to claim third.
From BBC • Nov. 1, 2022
On my way home, if I were to take P Street NW, I would stop at Emissary and get a cocktail, Kicking and Screaming.
From Washington Post • Mar. 21, 2022
Last year’s inaugural winner was The Emissary by Yoko Tawada.
From The Guardian • Nov. 20, 2019
The Canon Award winner, selected by Wolfe himself, goes to Seattle photographer Paul Bannick's "Arctic Emissary" — a shot of a snowy owl in sidelong flight but with its eyes turned directly at the viewer.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2012
Then Emissary Kim sat down at his table again.
From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
