Etymology Map
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Embassy

3 stages from Gothic to English.

Today it means the official residence of an ambassador

Where does the word "embassy" come from? It comes from Gothic andbahti, passing through French before entering English (1570s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
andbahti
Gothic · ancient
"office, service"
a Gothic word, borrowed into Medieval Latin as 'ambactia'
2
Stage 2 of 3
ambassade
French · 1400s
"mission of envoys"
came via Italian 'ambasciata'
3
Stage 3 of 3
embassy
English · 1570s
"mission of envoys"
the building sense dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Embassy’s story begins in Gothic: andbahti meant “office, service.” A Gothic word, borrowed into Medieval Latin as 'ambactia'. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in French as ambassade. Came via Italian 'ambasciata'. It reached English by 1570s as embassy. The building sense dates from the 1800s. Today, embassy means the official residence of an ambassador.