embassy
[em-buh-see]
- 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.
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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. 2018
Examples from the Web for embassy
Contemporary Examples
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 InstituteJames Kirchick
December 22, 2014
The Greek embassy confirmed the death, which has barely registered by the international press.
The U.S. will reopen an embassy in Havana, meaning an ambassador will be appointed.
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.
I eventually left the West Bank for Jordan with a visa I obtained from the French embassy.
Historical Examples
The embassy occupies but one of them, where it heaps up its dusty archives.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile 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 DictionaryJ. 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, CompleteDuc de Saint-Simon
embassy
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for embassy
n.
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.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper