envoy

¹

[en-voi, ahn-]

noun

1. a diplomatic agent.

   Synonyms: deputy, emissary, delegate

2. any accredited messenger or representative.

   Synonyms: deputy, emissary, delegate

3. Also called minister plenipotentiary. Also called envoy extraordinary. a diplomatic agent of the second rank, next in status after an ambassador.

envoy

²

Or en·voi

[en-voi, ahn-]

noun

1. a short stanza concluding a poem in certain archaic metrical forms, as a ballade, and serving as a dedication, or a similar postscript to a prose composition.

envoy

¹

/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

1. Formal name: envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an ambassador and a minister resident

2. an accredited messenger, agent, or representative

envoy

²

/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

1. a brief dedicatory or explanatory stanza concluding certain forms of poetry, notably ballades

2. a postscript in other forms of verse or prose

Other Word Forms

• envoyship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of envoy¹

1635–45; < French envoyé envoy, noun use of past participle of envoyer to send < Vulgar Latin *inviāre, presumably originally to be on a journey, verbal derivative of Latin in viā on one's way, en route

Origin of envoy²

1350–1400; Middle English envoye < Old French, derivative of envoyer to send; envoy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of envoy¹

C17: from French envoyé, literally: sent, from envoyer to send, from Vulgar Latin inviāre (unattested) to send on a journey, from _in- ² + via road

Origin of envoy²

C14: from Old French envoye, from envoyer to send; see _envoy ¹

Example Sentences

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair spent eight years working to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians as the international community’s envoy to the Middle East.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nomi Bar-Yaacov, a former international peace negotiator, said: "I don't think the Palestinians trust him at all. I think they view him as a colossal failure during the time that he was the Quartet envoy."

Read more on BBC

US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus said the text did not go far enough in condemning Hamas or recognise Israel's right to defend itself.

Read more on BBC

Following the Alaska meeting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Putin had agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential future peace deal, though Moscow has yet to confirm this.

Read more on BBC

Delhi reportedly lobbied against the move, leading to Holbrooke being appointed envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• delegate 
• diplomat 
• emissary 
• minister 
• representative