plenipotentiary
2
9.9
- noun
- /ˌplɛnɪpəˈtɛnʃiˌɛri/
- Formal
:
plenipotenciario
- "I require plenipotentiary authority over all Christian shrines in the Holy Land.
- Plenipotentiary Conference
Examples
-
Japan's plenipotentiaries earned the title of "silent partners of the peace," a phrase not intended as a compliment.
Academic text (1995) -
The ambassador was appointed as a minister plenipotentiary to negotiate a peace treaty.
-
Thomas Jefferson, minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
-
The first witness, F. F. Low, who was once a plenipotentiary of the United States in China, was not necessarily favorable to the Chinese.
Academic text (2003) -
Served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France from 1792 to 1794.
Blog text (4) -
You've been appointed plenipotentiary extraordinary to the court of Saudi Arabia.
-
Multilateral conventions are adopted by an ad hoc conference of plenipotentiaries.
Academic text (1990) -
In 1904, he left Iran for Paris, where he worked as the Minister Plenipotentiary (in Persian: Vazir Mokhtar) of Iran to France.
Blog text (23) -
Treaty-making and ratification powers technically fall within "crown prerogative," providing the Governor-in-Council (Governor General and cabinet) plenipotentiary authority to enter into treaties.
Academic text (2005) -
Aggrey Awori was Ugandan Minister Plenipotentiary in Washington D.C. from 1981 to 1984 and served as Ugandan Ambassador to Brussels from 1984 to 1987.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
∞
3.7
An official who lives in another country and speaks for their government
348
4.2
A diplomat who represents one country to another and ranks below an ambassador
223
3.6
An official person who represents their country abroad and negotiates with other countries
94
6.6
A person sent by a government to talk and make agreements with another country
8
9.5
A person who represents a government in another country
1
7.9
A person who works for their country and talks with other countries to make agreements
A government diplomat below an ambassador who can sign agreements for their country
A government official sent on a special diplomatic mission with lower rank than an ambassador
A person who a government or organization sends to speak for it at official meetings
A person who handles difficult talks calmly and keeps peace
A government official who represents their country in another country and ranks below an ambassador
An old word for a senior official who a country sends to represent it in another country
Compounds
- Formal
A government diplomat below an ambassador who can sign agreements for their country
How Authoritative
- Formal
∞
3.7
- Formal
2
9.9
- Formal
348
4.2
94
6.6
- Formal
1
7.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
plenipotentiary = plenipotent + pleni (opaque) = pleni + potent + iary
The formation from the adjective 'plenipotent' to an agentive noun is a regular suffixation, but the adjective and the combining element 'pleni-' are uncommon and not obvious to average learners.
Etymology
The word plenipotentiary comes from the Latin parts plenus ('full') and potens ('power'), and you can see the same roots in plenty ('a lot') and potent ('powerful'). So a plenipotentiary is someone given 'full' 'power' to act for their government, for example to sign treaties.