- ambassador
- late 14c., from M.Fr. ambassadeur, from O.Fr. embassator, via Prov. or O.Sp. from L. ambactus "a servant, vassal," from Celt. amb(i)actos "a messenger, servant," from PIE *ambhi- "about" + *ag- "drive, lead." Cf. embassy. Forms in am- and em- were used indiscriminately 17c.-18c.