Where does “embassy” come from?
Embassy comes from Middle French ambassee, from Old French ambascee, a word of uncertain ultimate origin referring to a messenger's mission or delegation.
embassy (English): The function or duty of an ambassador; An...
Definitions
- The function or duty of an ambassador; An...
Ancestry of “embassy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | ambassee | mission, embassy |
| 2 | Old French | ambascee | — |
| 3 | Old Italian | ambasciata | — |
| 4 | Old Occitan | ambaissada | embassy |
| 5 | Old Occitan | ambaissa | service, mission, errand; message |
| 6 | Latin | ambactia | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ambahtiją | service, ministry, office, message |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | ambahtaz | servant |
| 9 | Gaulish | ambaxtos | vassal, high-ranking servant |
| 10 | Proto-Celtic | ambaxtos | servant |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |