| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| ambassador |
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| SYLLABICATION: | am·bas·sa·dor |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   m-bs  -dr, -dôr |
| NOUN: | 1. 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. 2. A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations. 3. An authorized messenger or representative. 4. An unofficial representative: ambassadors of goodwill. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English ambassadour, from Old French ambassadeur, from Medieval Latin ambactia, mission, from Latin ambactus, servant, ultimately of Celtic origin. See ag- in Appendix I. | | OTHER FORMS: | am·bassa·dori·al (-dôr -l, -d r-) —ADJECTIVE
am·bassa·dor·ship —NOUN
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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