When a person does not have enough free time to perform duties or there is no opportunity to personally participate in solving the issue, he seeks help. Acts through intermediaries, sends assistants with instructions. But what if the business takes place abroad and / or at the level of influential persons? If anyone copes, it’s an emissary! A broad-based specialist who can serve as a courier, spy, perform more delicate or dangerous tasks. How did the concept come about and what does it mean?
Dual purpose
The basis is the French word emissaire, which fully borrowed the meaning from the Latin emissarius. The literal translation will be “sent” or “messenger”, because the emissary is a person traveling abroad. However, in Latin there is an earlier version of the term - emittere or “send (for peeping)”, which literally means:
The representative of the profession is quite capable of contract killings, sabotage, theft of valuable information.
How are things going in the 21st century?
Unofficial ambassador
States, special services, political organizations can have completely different tasks in relations with agents abroad or with officials of other countries. In this sense, the meaning of the word "emissary" is closer to "ambassador." Although the latter is negotiating a high level and is fully protected by international obligations from any encroachment on his person, personal property. Because of this, it cannot fully promote the interests of the country.
Will an official, under the supervision of foreign intelligence, conduct behind-the-scenes intrigues on foreign territory? The risk of a Bellie incident is too great. Want to get around slippery moments? The emissary is responsible for this: the purpose of his visit is often not declared openly, is of a secret nature. Often, his very identity remains unknown to reduce the risk of compromising his native state. The topic is rather unpleasant, dangerous for a specific agent, since there are all reasons to consider such people as spies.
At the household level
Oddly enough, the word has no negative connotation. It is rarely used in the conversations of ordinary people, sometimes played out in fiction, in the gaming industry. For most contemporaries, an emissary is an ordinary messenger who is sent in emergency situations. When there is no time or desire to prepare a stationary conference venue, discuss the nuances of a future meeting. Due to the many synonyms, the concept is rarely used if it is not the name of the post.