EMBASSY  , the

office of an ambassador, or, more generally, the mission on which an ambassador of one power is sent to another, or the body of official personages attached to such a mission, whether temporary or permanent . Hence " embassy " is often quite loosely used of any mission, diplomatic or other-wise . The word is also used of the official residence of an ambassador . "Embassy " was originally " ambassy," the form used in the 17th century, but by the time of Johnson considered quite obsolete . " Ambassy " is from the 0 . Fr. ambassee, derived through such forms as the Port. ambassada, Ital. ambasciata from a lost Med . Lat. ambactiata, ambactiare, to go on a mission .