Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. The function or duty of an ambassador; An...

Ancestry of “embassy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchambasseemission, embassy
2Old Frenchambascee—
3Old Italianambasciata—
4Old Occitanambaissadaembassy
5Old Occitanambaissaservice, mission, errand; message
6Latinambactia—
7Proto-Germanicambahtijąservice, ministry, office, message
8Proto-Germanicambahtazservant
9Gaulishambaxtosvassal, high-ranking servant
10Proto-Celticambaxtosservant
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →