embassade Obs. or arch.
(ɛmbəˈseɪd)
Also 5 enbassed, enbassade, 7 Sc. embassaid.
[See ambassade, of which this is a less frequent var.]
1. The mission or function of an ambassador; = ambassade 1.
| 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. iii. 32 When you disgrac'd me in my Embassade. 1601 Holland Pliny 491 P. Iunius, and T. Coruncanus..were put to death, notwithstanding they came in embassade to her. |
2. A body of persons (or a single person) sent on a mission, or as a deputation, to or from a sovereign; an ambassador and his suite; = ambassade 2.
| 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccliii. 325 Also this same yere cam a grete enbassade in to englond. 1494 Fabyan iv. lxvi. 45 He sente to hym an enbassed. Ibid. iv. lxxv. 53 An Embassade shuld be made vnto the Kynge of lytell Brytayne. 1551 in Strype Eccl. Mem. II. i. ii. ix. 320 Upon coming of great embassades or foreign princes. |
3. The message sent or delivered by an ambassador; = ambassade 3.
| 1508 Fisher Seven Ps. Ps. cxliii. ii. (1529) R i b They fered to shewe thyne enbassade. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 57 In this counsell..they consult of embassaids. |
4. quasi-adv. On an embassy. rare.
| 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccxix. [ccxv.] 677 Howe the frenche kyng..had sente a knyght of honour embassade to hym. 1596 Spenser Hymne Beautie 252 But when her words embassade forth she sends. |