embassy

American  

[em-buh-see] / ˈɛm bə si /

noun

plural

embassies

1. a body of people entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, especially an ambassador and their staff.

2. the official headquarters of an ambassador.

3. the function or office of an ambassador.

4. a mission headed by an ambassador.

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embassy British  

/ ˈɛmbəsɪ /

noun

1. the residence or place of official business of an ambassador

2. an ambassador and his entourage collectively

3. the position, business, or mission of an ambassador

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

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Etymology

Origin of embassy

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of ambassy, from Middle French ambassee, Old French ambasce, ambaxee, ultimately from Old Provençal ambaissada, derivative of embayssar “to send a delegate,” from Medieval Latin ambasciāre, derivative of ambascia “service, office,” derivative, by a Germanic intermediary (compare Gothic andbahti, Old High German ambahti ) of Gallo-Latin ambactus “retainer, servant” (from Gaulish, equivalent to amb- “around, both” + -act- verbal adjective of unattested ag- “drive, lead”; compare Welsh amaeth “husbandman”); ambi-, amphi- ( def. ), act, ambassador

Example Sentences

China’s embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the seismic data cited by Yeaw.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I'm confirming that he's in country," a US embassy official told AFP.

From Barron's

Public awareness grew, heightened by factors like the US embassy in Beijing making monitoring data public.

From Barron's

But it has previously taken the position that it is obliged to issue passports to citizens who present themselves at an Australian embassy.

From BBC

Final results are still to come, but the United States was swift to offer its congratulations to Rahman and the BNP for an "historic victory", its embassy in Dhaka said.

From Barron's

Related Words

• commission
• consulate
• delegation
• ministry