emissary

UK: /ˈɛmɪsəri/ US: /ˈɛməˌsɛri/ ,(em′ə ser′ē)

Inflections of 'emissary' (n): npl: emissaries

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•is•sar•y /ˈɛməˌsɛri/   n. [countable] , pl. -sar•ies. 

1. a representative who is sent on a mission;
   a delegate who is sent to another person, country, or group with a message.

See -mis-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•is•sar•y  (em′ə ser′ē), n., pl. -sar•ies, adj. 
n. 

1. a representative sent on a mission or errand:
   emissaries to negotiate a peace.
2. an agent sent on a mission of a secret nature, as a spy.
3. Anatomy sending or coming out, as certain veins that pass through the skull and connect the venous sinuses inside with the veins outside.
4. pertaining to an emissary.

adj. 

5. [Archaic.] sent forth, as on a mission.

• Latin ēmissārius one sent out, equivalent. to ēmiss- (see emission) + -ārius -ary
• 1595–1605

Synonyms

• 1. delegate, ambassador, envoy, legate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

emissary / ˈɛmɪsərɪ -ɪsrɪ/ noun ( -saries)

1. an agent or messenger sent on a mission, esp one who represents a government or head of state
2. (as modifier): an emissary delegation
3. an agent sent on a secret mission, as a spy

adjective

1. (of veins) draining blood from sinuses in the dura mater to veins outside the skull

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin ēmissārius emissary, spy, from ēmittere to send out; see emit