Etymology Explorer › Old Italian

Where does “ambassadore” come from?

ambassadore (Old Italian) comes from Old Occitan ambaisador, from Old Occitan ambaissa, from Latin ambactia, from Proto-Germanic ambahtiją, from Proto-Germanic ambahtaz, from Gaulish ambaxtos, from Proto-Celtic ambaxtos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.

Ancestry of “ambassadore”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Occitanambaisadorambassador
2Old Occitanambaissaservice, mission, errand; message
3Latinambactia—
4Proto-Germanicambahtijąservice, ministry, office, message
5Proto-Germanicambahtazservant
6Gaulishambaxtosvassal, high-ranking servant
7Proto-Celticambaxtosservant
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →