emissary
UK[ˈemɪsəri]US[ˈemɪseri]
n
a person who is sent by one government or political leader to another to deliver messages or to take part in discussions
n
a representative or agent of another, especially on a mission
Morpheme Breakdown
e
miss
ary
e
out
miss
send
ary
person/agent
Etymology
The word 'emissary' originates from the Latin 'emissarius', meaning a scout or a person sent out. This Latin term is derived from the verb 'emittere', which combines the prefix 'e-' (meaning 'out') and 'mittere' (meaning 'to send'). The core concept of sending forth is preserved in the modern English meaning. Over time, the specific sense evolved from a general messenger or scout to one acting on behalf of a government or organization, emphasizing the agent's role in a diplomatic or secretive mission.
Analysis
Structure: e (out) + miss (send) + ary (person/agent)
- e: A prefix of Latin origin, a variant of 'ex-', meaning 'out', 'forth', or 'away'.
- miss: A root of Latin origin, from 'mittere' (to send), appearing in English as the bound form 'miss' or 'mit'.
- ary: A suffix of Latin origin ('-arius'), used to form nouns denoting a person or thing connected with an action or function.
Examples
The president sent a trusted emissary to negotiate the terms of the ceasefire.
He acted as an unofficial emissary between the two rival factions.
The ancient king received an emissary bearing gifts from a distant land.