| 释义 |
plenipotentiary, a. and n.|ˌplɛnɪpəʊˈtɛnʃərɪ|
[ad. med. and law L. plēnipotentiārius, f. *plēnipotentia: see plenipotency and -ary1. So F. plénipotentiaire n. and adj. (Balzac a 1654).]
A. adj. Invested with full power, esp. as the deputy, representative, or envoy of a sovereign ruler; exercising absolute power or authority.
Often, after French usage, placed after its n., as ambassador plenipotentiary, envoy plenipotentiary, minister plenipotentiary.
c1645Howell Lett. (1650) II. xliv. 58, I hear the peace twix't Spain and Holland is absolutely concluded by the plenipotentiary Ministers at Munster. 1713Lond. Gaz. No. 5144/6 Thomas Earl of Strafford,..One of Her Majesty's Ambassadors-Plenipotentiary at the Congress at Utretch. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 332 One of the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India I. 223 He was..nominated his Majesty's envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
b. Of or belonging to a plenipotentiary (see B.); absolute, full, unlimited.
1648Hamilton Papers (Camden) 199 Giveing Sir Tho. Fairfax a plenipotentiary comission of the Militia to raise what number and secure and impres on what persons he pleased. 1663Cowley Verses & Ess., Ode Restauration i, Nor whilst around the Continent, Plenipotentiary beams ye sent. 1793Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 479 It was given in as plenipotentiary a form as held by any sovereign. 1880Trollope Duke's Children III. ii. 19 A liberal party, with plenipotentiary power, must go on..to the logical conclusion of its arguments.
B. n. A person invested with full, unlimited, or discretionary powers or authority, esp. in regard to a particular transaction, as the conclusion of a peace or treaty; an envoy or ambassador deputed by his sovereign to act at his own discretion.
1656Blount Glossogr., Plenipotentiaries, ambassadors..from their King..sent, to treat and conclude with an enemy or other person upon all or such points as are contained in their Commisssion, etc. 1668Temple Let. to Ld. Arlington Wks. 1731 II. 94, I know not why the Character of Plenipotentiary may not agree with that of Envoy Extraordinary on all Hands. a1715Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 17 The States General..act only as Plenipotentiaries of the several provinces. 1877Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 3) I. App 643 A document..which..gives..the names of the plenipotentiaries on both sides.
b. transf. and fig.
a1711Ken Sion Poet. Wks. 1721 IV. 328 To chuse some fit Plenipotentiary: Of sacred Hymn I strait made choice. 1850Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. v. 71 Not as a plenipotentiary supernaturally gifted to convey a mysterious benefit.
Hence † ˌplenipotentiˈarian, a plenipoteniary; plenipoˈtentiarily adv., in a plenipotentiary manner; plenipoˈtentiarize v. intr., to act as a plenipotentiary; plenipoˈtentiaryship, the office of a plenipotentiary.
1654tr. Martini's Conq. China 48 When the Emperour had perused the Treatie, he presently found his *Plenipotentiarian had sold him. 1649Bounds Publ. Obed. 13 Persons plenipotentiarily deputed to conclude for the publique good of the people,..sit at Westminster.
1841Fraser's Mag. XXIV. 737 The other continued to *plenipotentiarise till he..forced his government to dismiss him in disgrace.
1800Southey Let. to Coleridge 1 Apr., Should you be in Bristol, of course the *plenipotentiaryship is vested in you. |