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 minister plenipotentiary. Also called envoy extraordinary. 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 name: envoy 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

Other Word Forms

• envoyship 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

Following the Alaska meeting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Putin had agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential future peace deal, though Moscow has yet to confirm this.

From BBC

Delhi reportedly lobbied against the move, leading to Holbrooke being appointed envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

From BBC

Underscoring the shift in relations, China's envoy in Delhi Xu Feihong recently denounced Washington's steep tariffs on Indian goods, calling the US a "bully" .

From BBC

Ottawa has now named Christopher Cooter as its new envoy to Delhi, while India has appointed Dinesh K Patnaik, currently ambassador to Spain, as its representative in Canada.

From BBC

In July, the government sent in ministerial envoys to get the council's finances back on track.

From BBC

Related Words

• delegate 
• diplomat 
• emissary 
• minister 
• representative