/em"beuh see/ , n. , pl. embassies .
1. a body of persons entrusted with a mission to a sovereign or government, esp. an ambassador and his or her staff.
2. the official headquarters of an ambassador.
3. the function or office of an ambassador.
4. a mission headed by an ambassador.
[ 1570-80; var. of ambassy ambassee, OF ambasce, ambaxee ambaissada, deriv. of embayssar to send a delegate ambasciare, deriv. of ambascia service, office, deriv., by a Gmc intermediary (cf. Goth andbahti, OHG ambahti ) of Gallo-L ambactus retainer, servant ( amb- around, AMBI- + -act- verbal adj. of * ag- drive, lead; cf. ACT, Welsh amaeth husbandman); cf. AMBASSADOR ]