embassy

[em-buh-see]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR embassy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural em·bas·sies.

a body of persons entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, especially an ambassador and his or her staff.

the official headquarters of an ambassador.

the function or office of an ambassador.

a mission headed by an ambassador.

Origin of embassy

1570–80; variant of ambassy < Middle French ambassee, Old French ambasce, ambaxee ≪ Old Provençal ambaissada, derivative of embayssar to send a delegate < Medieval Latin ambasciāre, derivative of ambascia service, office, derivative, by a Gmc intermediary (compare Gothic andbahti, Old High German ambahti) of Gallo-Latin ambactus retainer, servant (< Gaulish, equivalent to amb- around, ambi- + -act- verbal adjective of *ag- drive, lead; cf. act, Welsh amaeth husbandman); cf. ambassador

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for embassy

delegation, commission, consulate, ministry, mission, committee, legation

Examples from the Web for embassy

Contemporary Examples of embassy

On May 9, which Moscow commemorates as World War II “Victory Day,” Klaus paid a highly visible visit to the Russian Embassy.
Vaclav Klaus, Libertarian Hero, Has His Wings Clipped by Cato Institute
James Kirchick
December 22, 2014
The Greek embassy confirmed the death, which has barely registered by the international press.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway
Liza Foreman
December 21, 2014
The U.S. will reopen an embassy in Havana, meaning an ambassador will be appointed.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo
Nina Strochlic
December 18, 2014
I asked him to describe the U.S. mission that will likely revert back to the embassy it was more than a half century ago.
Meet America’s Next Ambassador to Cuba
Eleanor Clift
December 18, 2014
I eventually left the West Bank for Jordan with a visa I obtained from the French embassy.
What It’s Like to Be an Atheist in Palestine
Waleed al-Husseini, Movements.Org
December 8, 2014

Historical Examples of embassy

The embassy occupies but one of them, where it heaps up its dusty archives.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
Every thing is arranged for my embassy, and the day is fixed for our leaving England.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
You see the expediency, the necessity of my accepting this embassy.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
He received an appointment on the staff of the London embassy.
A Zola Dictionary
J. G. Patterson
He led me to his Majesty at once, and there and then my embassy was announced.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon

British Dictionary definitions for embassy

embassy

noun plural -sies

the residence or place of official business of an ambassador

an ambassador and his entourage collectively

the position, business, or mission of an ambassador

any important or official mission, duty, etc, esp one undertaken by an agent

Word Origin for embassy

C16: from Old French ambassee, from Old Italian ambasciata, from Old Provençal ambaisada, ultimately of Germanic origin; see ambassador

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for embassy

1570s, "position of an ambassador," from Middle French embassee "mission, charge, office of ambassador," Old French ambassee, from Italian ambasciata, from Old Provençal ambaisada "office of ambassador," from Gaulish *ambactos "dependant, vassal," literally "one going around," from PIE *amb(i)-ag-to, from *ambi- (see ambi-) + *ambi- "around" (see ambi-) + *ag- "to drive, move" (see act (n.)).

Meaning "official residence and retinue of an ambassador" is from 1764. In earlier use were embassade (late 15c.), ambassade (early 15c.).