Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.
- n. A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.
- n. An authorized messenger or representative.
- n. An unofficial representative: ambassadors of goodwill.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A diplomatic agent of the highest rank, employed to represent officially one prince or state at the court or to the government of another. Diplomatic agents are divided into three general classes: ambassadors, legates, and nuncios;
- n. Hence — In general, any diplomatic agent of high rank; an agent or a representative of another on any mission.
- n. A thing sent as expressive of the sentiments of the sender.
Wiktionary
- n. A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign court to represent there his sovereign or country.
- n. An official messenger and representative.
- n. obsolete, slang A trick to duck some ignorant fellow or landsman, frequently played on board ships in the warm latitudes. It is thus managed: A large tub is filled with water, and two stools placed on each side of it. Over the whole is thrown a tarpaulin, or old sail: this is kept tight by two persons, who are to represent the king and queen of a foreign country, and are seated on the stools. The person intended to be ducked plays the Ambassador, and after repeating a ridiculous speech dictated to him, is led in great form up to the throne, and seated between the king and queen, who rising suddenly as soon as he is seated, he falls backwards into the tub of water. (1811 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue)
- n. A corporate representative, often the public face of the company.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign court to represent there his sovereign or country.
- n. An official messenger and representative.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
- n. an informal representative
Etymologies
- From Middle English ambassadore, from Anglo-Norman ambassaduer, ambassateur, from Old Italian ambassatore, ambassadore, from Old Provençal ambaisador ("ambassador"), derivative of ambaissa ("service, mission, errand"), from Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌱𐌰𐌷𐍄𐌹 (andbahti, "service, function"), from Proto-Germanic *ambahtijan (“service, office”), derivative of Proto-Germanic *ambahtaz (“servant”), of Celtic origin, from Gaulish *ambactos (“servant”), from Proto-Indo-European *ambʰi- (“around”) + Proto-Indo-European *aǵ- (“to drive”). More at umbe, agent. (Wiktionary)
- Middle English ambassadour, from Old French ambassadeur, from Medieval Latin ambactia, mission, from Latin ambactus, servant, ultimately of Celtic origin; see ag- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“The term ambassador, if taken strictly, as seems to be required by the second of the articles of Confederation, comprehends the highest grade only of public ministers, and excludes the grades which the United States will be most likely to prefer, where foreign embassies may be necessary.”
“The term ambassador conjures the picture of a rich duplicitous Jeremy Irons-type guy living in a foreign country and lying to everyone there on behalf of rich guys back in his home country.”
“Facebook group to expell the Irish Papal Nuncio (that's what they call their ambassador)”
“i thought the term ambassador was reserved for representatives of various countries and international organizations dedicated to helping people like the UN.”
“Peter W. Galbraith, an influential former American ambassador, is a powerful voice on Iraq who helped shape the views of policy makers like Joseph R. Biden Jr. and John Kerry.”
“He is challenged by a man named Kerk Pyrrus (who turns out to be the ambassador from the planet Pyrrus) to turn a large amount of money into an immense sum by gambling at a government-run casino.”
“An ambassador is placed in another nation upon interest of a country.”
Epoch Times - U.S. Ambassador Talks With Human Rights' Lawyers in ...
“Sudan's U.N. ambassador is warning the country could slip back into civil war if a referendum goes ahead in the oil-rich Abyei region in January without consent from Khartoum.”
Voice of America: Sudanese Envoy Warns of War if Referendum Goes Ahead in Abyei
“The center's new dean, Lauren Kahea Moriarty, a retired U.S. ambassador, is the daughter of Inouye's former close aide.”
The Washington Post: In history of Hawaiian leaders, Daniel Inouye stands alone
“Mr. Sha, who was previously China's U.N. ambassador, is known for his unharmonious outbursts; at a meeting in September he told his boss, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "I never liked you.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘ambassador’.
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POL - people in power
daredevil, tzar, king, boss, master, commander, chief, kingpin, top banana, bigwig, big cheese, big wheel and 452 more...
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Dramatic Nouns
Nouns to be used as descriptions while writing stories
night owl, early bird, hedonist, ascetic, derelict, explorer, radical, pity friend, cupid, truant, caretaker, guardian and 120 more...
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Society
social work, coverage, affiliate, social security, ambulance, clinic, health, insurance, emergency, mail, letter, envelope and 101 more...
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AFET - diplomacy
broker a peace ac..., client state, deadlocked peace ..., embassy, freeze, goodwill ambassador, hinterland, interfere in dome..., intervene personally, maintain technica..., mediation, no business as usual and 670 more...
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INTERP - sexist language
Problematic and recommended terms according to the EP's guide on gender neutral language use
usher, mayor, head, chair, staff, nurse, actor, gender-neutral la..., biased, discriminatory, demeaning, political correct... and 103 more...
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EU - Eurovoc - international relations
ABM Agreement, accession to a co..., accession to a tr..., accession to an a..., achievement of peace, ACP-EC Convention, advanced technolo..., aerospace industry, African organisation, aggression, agreement, agricultural coop... and 851 more...
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Just 'cause I like 'em, A
abaculus, abacus, abaft, abarticular, abbreviate, abeyance, abiding, anthocyanin, antemeridian, arcane, adjure, adduce and 418 more...
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Gems from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulg...
Citation: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, unabridged from the original 1811 edition, with a foreword by Max Harris. London: Bibliophile Books, 1984.
Original title page: A Dictio...tuzzy-muzzy, half seas over, hugger mugger, hugotontheonbiqui..., doodle sack, juniper lecture, kate, kent street eject..., jack ketch, davy, abel-wackets, three-legged mare and 370 more...
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Basic English Vocabulary
Very basic words for ESL students.
contemplate, container, consumer, consultant, consensus, conscious, conscience, connection, confusion, confront, conflict, confident and 4334 more...
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Alles ganz verschieden
Listed various words that have come into my mind. Will edit them at some point - honestly.
dog-gold, shoulderlooker, mr. considering, the pigwoman, stevie is waiting, chingwybodganpwy, thelandscapeisstu..., couchsurfing, cappuccinodrinking, meat-eater, posher, mae rhaid i fi fynd and 581 more...
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I'd Be Honoured To Do This List
honorifics. might park some formal titles here too until there are enough to spawn another list.
tuan, puan, dr, earl, miss, master, mr, mrs, ms, mx, your highness, your honour and 67 more...
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Terms for People
pundit, puritan, cretin, popinjay, jackanape, schlemiel, diplomat, ambassador, partisan, apostle, disciple, puppet and 71 more...
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Honorifics
emperor, empress, king, queen, monarch, prince, princess, admiral, general, herald, warden, patriarch and 68 more...
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QueenMab07's Words
virago, indigo, corporeal, ravenclaw, queen, water, voyager, wherefore, whereas, forsooth, indeed, chocolate and 73 more...
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SAT Prep
abhor, bigot, counterfeit, enfranchise, hamper, kindle, noxious, placid, remuneration, talisman, pedant, autodidact and 4 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for ambassador.
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