envoy

From French envoyé (“envoy, messenger”), from envoyer (“send”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛn.vɔɪ/, /ˈɑn.vɔɪ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɛn.vɔɪ/

• Audio (Southern England):

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envoy (plural envoys)

1. (law) A diplomatic agent of the second rank, next in status after an ambassador.
3. A representative.

   special envoy to the United Nations

   • 1887, W. P. Groeneveldt, “Notes on the Malay Archipelago and Malacca”, in Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China and the Indian Archipelago‎^[1], volume I, London: Trübner & Co., →OCLC, page 165:

     In the year 1460 the king Tu-ma-pan (Tumapel?)† sent envoys to carry tribute. When these envoys went back, and had arrived at An-ch’ing,‡ they got drunk and had a fight with foreign priests who came to bring tribute, and of whom six were killed.

4. A diplomat.
5. A messenger.
6. (poetry) Alternative spelling of envoi (“short stanza at end of poem”).

• (diplomatic agent of second rank): envoy extraordinary, minister plenipotentiary