envoy

¹

[ en-voi, ahn- ]

noun

1. a diplomatic agent.

   Synonyms: deputy, emissary, delegate

2. any accredited messenger or representative.

   Synonyms: deputy, emissary, delegate

3. Also called en·voy ex·tra·or·di·nar·y [en, -voi ik-, strawr, -dn-er-ee, ek-str, uh, -, awr, -, ahn, -voi],. a diplomatic agent of the second rank, next in status after an ambassador.

envoy

²

or en·voi

[ en-voi, ahn- ]

noun

1. a short stanza concluding a poem in certain archaic metrical forms, as a ballade, and serving as a dedication, or a similar postscript to a prose composition.

envoy

¹

/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

1. Formal nameenvoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an ambassador and a minister resident
2. an accredited messenger, agent, or representative

envoy

²

/ ˈɛnvɔɪ /

noun

1. a brief dedicatory or explanatory stanza concluding certain forms of poetry, notably ballades
2. a postscript in other forms of verse or prose

Derived Forms

• ˈenvoyship, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of envoy¹

1635–45; < French envoyé envoy, noun use of past participle of envoyer to send < Vulgar Latin *inviāre, presumably originally to be on a journey, verbal derivative of Latin in viā on one's way, en route

Origin of envoy²

1350–1400; Middle English envoye < Old French, derivative of envoyer to send; envoy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of envoy¹

C17: from French envoyé, literally: sent, from envoyer to send, from Vulgar Latin inviāre (unattested) to send on a journey, from in- ² + via road

Origin of envoy²

C14: from Old French envoye, from envoyer to send; see envoy ¹

Example Sentences

Last month, the UN special envoy for Syria warned that the wars in Gaza and Lebanon appeared to be “catalysing conflict in north-west Syria in a dangerous manner”.

From BBC

Donald Trump has selected his former National Security Council Chief of Staff Keith Kellogg to join his second term as a special envoy to Ukraine.

From Salon

I witnessed it myself when US climate envoy John Podesta was chased out a meeting area with chants of “shame” ringing in his ears.

From BBC

Zvi Kogan, an envoy of the Orthodox Jewish organisation Chabad, has been missing since Thursday, the Israeli prime minister's office said.

From BBC

A US envoy has arrived in Israel to continue negotiations on a ceasefire with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, after reporting “additional progress” during a second day of talks in Beirut.

From BBC

Related Words

• delegate
• diplomat
• emissary
• minister
• representative