[ad. L. ēmissāri-us adj., that is sent, also absol. an emissary, spy, f. ēmiss- ppl. stem of ēmittĕre to send out (see EMIT) + -ārius, -ARY1.]
A. sb. A person sent on a mission to gain information, or to gain adherents to, or promote the interests of a cause. (Almost exclusively in bad sense, implying something odious in the object of the mission, or something underhand in its manner.) Also fig.
In B. Jonson’s Staple of News (see quot. 1625) the word is used app. as a novelty, and recurs constantly through the play as the official title of the agents employed by the imaginary ‘office for the collection of news.’
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., I. ii. (1631), 9. What are Emissaries? Tho. Men imploy’d outward, that are sent abroad To fetch in the commodity [news].
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 465. The Bishops purseivants, and others their emissaries.
c. 1650. Denham, Progr. Learn., 126. Lucifer’s … faithful emissary, rose from hell To possess Peter’s chair.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., iv. § 3. 18. The meatus, or passages, through which those subtill emissaries [the Spirits] are conveyed to the respective members.
1708. Bickerstaff detected, in Swift’s Wks., II. I. 168. Culprit aforesaid is a popish emissary.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., I. § 7 (1808), 134. Pain … is … an emissary of this king of terrours.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., VII. 2. I am endeavouring to get this information by emissaries.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 379. Burghley … had … emissaries to inform him of the ballads sung in the streets.
1876. Green, Short Hist., vii. § 6 (1882), 400. She viewed the Douay priests simply as political emissaries of the Papacy.
b. = SPY.
1676. in Bullokar.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
† c. attrib. quasi-adj. Obs.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Underwoods, 8 (1640), 171 (R.). No, nor forth your window peepe, With your emissarie eye.
B. adj. That is sent forth.
† 1. a. Emitted as an emanation. b. Sent forth on a mission (cf. A). c. In transl. L. emissarius caper, Levit. xvi. 8. = SCAPE-GOAT. Obs. rare.
1659. H. More, Immort. Soul (1662), 121. Pleased so much with the opinion of those large Sphears they conceive of emissary Atomes. Ibid. (1685), Para. Prophet., 399. Emissary Agents from the Roman See. Ibid. (1688), An Illustration, 311. The Rivers must be Emissary Powers of the said Kingdom.
1833. Rock, Hierurg. (1851), 55. The High-Priest … offered the emissary goat.
2. Phys. Of small vessels: Sent forth, branching out from a main trunk.
1831. R. Knox, Cloquet’s Anat., 741. The veins … communicate … by a multitude of emissary twigs.
