Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ambassador"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Ambassador
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word _tsir_, meaning "one who
goes on an errand," is rendered thus (Josh. 9:4; Prov. 13:17;
Isa. 18:2; Jer. 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of
_melits_, meaning "an interpreter," in 2 Chr. 32:31; and of
_malak_, a "messenger," in 2 Chr. 35:21; Isa. 30:4; 33:7; Ezek.
17:15. This is the name used by the apostle as designating those
who are appointed by God to declare his will (2 Cor. 5:20; Eph.
6:20).
The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had
recourse to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract
alliances (Josh. 9:4), to solicit favours (Num. 20:14), to
remonstrate when wrong was done (Judg. 11:12), to condole with a
young king on the death of his father (2 Sam. 10:2), and to
congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1 Kings
5:1).
To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent
him (2 Sam. 10:5).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ambassador \Am*bas"sa*dor\, Embassador \Em*bas"sa*dor\, n. [See
{Embassador}.]
1. A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign court to
represent there his sovereign or country.
Note: Ambassadors are either ordinary [or resident] or
extraordinary, that is, sent upon some special or
unusual occasion or errand. --Abbott.
2. An official messenger and representative.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ambassador
n 1: a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative
from one country to another [syn: {embassador}]
2: an informal representative; "an ambassador of good will"
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