Emissary

Emissary
Emissary Em"is*sa*ry, n.; pl. {Emissaries}. [L. emissarius, fr. emittere, emissum, to send out: cf. F. ['e]missaire. See {Emit}.] An agent employed to advance, in a covert manner, the interests of his employers; one sent out by any power that is at war with another, to create dissatisfaction among the people of the latter. [1913 Webster]

Buzzing emissaries fill the ears Of listening crowds with jealousies and fears. --Dryden.

Syn: {Emissary}, {Spy}.

Usage: A spy is one who enters an enemy's camp or territories to learn the condition of the enemy; an emissary may be a secret agent appointed not only to detect the schemes of an opposing party, but to influence their councils. A spy must be concealed, or he suffers death; an emissary may in some cases be known as the agent of an adversary without incurring similar hazard. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Emissary — may refer to: * Ambassador * Diplomat * The Subspace Emissary in Super Smash Bros. Brawl * Emissaries (album), an album by black metal group Melechesh * Emissary (hydraulics), channel by which an outlet is formed to carry off any stagnant body of …   Wikipedia

  • emissary — em·is·sary / e mə ˌser ē/ n pl sar·ies: a representative usu. empowered to act more or less independently (as in collecting or conveying information or in negotiating) Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. emissary …   Law dictionary

  • emissary — [em′i ser΄ē] n. pl. emissaries [L emissarius < pp. of emittere: see EMIT] a person or agent sent on a specific mission adj. of, or serving as, an emissary or emissaries …   English World dictionary

  • Emissary — Em is*sa*ry, a. 1. Exploring; spying. B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) Applied to the veins which pass out of the cranium through apertures in its walls. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • emissary — (n.) 1620s, from Fr. émissaire (17c.) or directly L. emissarius, lit. that is sent out, from emissus, pp. of emittere send forth (see EMIT (Cf. emit)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • emissary — [n] deputy agent, ambassador, bearer, carrier, consul, courier, delegate, envoy, front, go between, herald, hired gun*, intermediary, internuncio, legate, messenger, rep*, representative, scout, spy; concepts 348,423 …   New thesaurus

  • emissary — ► NOUN (pl. emissaries) ▪ a person sent as a diplomatic representative on a special mission. ORIGIN Latin emissarius scout, spy , from emittere emit …   English terms dictionary

  • emissary — n. an emissary to * * * [ emɪs(ə)rɪ] an emissary to …   Combinatory dictionary

  • emissary — [[t]e̱mɪsəri, AM seri[/t]] emissaries N COUNT An emissary is a representative sent by one government or leader to another. [FORMAL] ...the President s special emissary to Hanoi …   English dictionary

  • emissary — UK [ˈemɪsərɪ] / US [ˈemɪˌserɪ] noun [countable] Word forms emissary : singular emissary plural emissaries formal someone who does a job for a government or a leader, especially someone who delivers a message for them …   English dictionary

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