Ambassador
/æmˈbæs.ə.dər/noun
A diplomatic representative sent by one government to another.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Celtic source meaning “servant” or “attendant,” showing how a title of elite diplomacy began in the language of someone who carries out orders.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*ambactos
“servant, attendant”
Gaulish
Gaulish
ambactus
“servant, retainer”
Latin
Latin
ambactus
“servant, dependent”
Old French
OF
ambassadeur
“diplomatic envoy, messenger”
Middle English
English
ambassadour
“envoy sent on a diplomatic mission”
Modern English
English
ambassador
“official diplomatic representative”