Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EM'BAS-SY, n. [Sp. and Port. embaxada; Fr. ambassade.]

1. The message or public function of an embassador; the charge or employment of a public minister, whether embassador or envoy; the word signifies the message or commission itself, and the person or persons sent to convey or to execute it. We say, the king sent an embassy, meaning an envoy, minister, or ministers; or the king sent a person on an embassy. The embassy consisted of three envoys. The embassy was instructed to inquire concerning the king's disposition. Milford.
2. A solemn message. Taylor. Eighteen centuries ago, the Gospel went forth from Jerusalem on an embassy of mingled authority and love. B. Dickenson.
3. Ironically, an errand. Sidney. [The old orthography, ambassade, ambassage, being obslete, and embassy established, I have rendered the orthography of embassador conformable to it in the initial letter. The elegant Blackstone uniformly wrote embassador.]