1. 同源:way => -voy (w -> v, a -> o).
2. en- "on" + -voy => envoy "on the way" (在途中、在进行中).
3. 所以该词的字面含义为:one who has been sent on the way to carry out a mission (被派遣出去执行使命的人).
4. 由此引申为:使者、使节。
中文词源
envoy 使节
en-, 进入,使。-voy, 路,词源同via, way.
英文词源
envoy
envoy: [14] English has acquired envoy – literally ‘sent on one’s way’ – twice. The first time, it meant ‘final part of a poem’ (this is now usually spelled envoi); the second time (in the 17th century) it meant ‘diplomatic representative’. Both came from the past participle of the French verb envoyer ‘send’, which in turn was a descendant of late Latin inviāre ‘put on the way’, a compound based on the noun via ‘way’. Its plural formed the basis of invoice [16]. => invoice
envoy (n.)
"messenger," 1660s, from French envoyé "messenger; a message; a sending; the postscript of a poem," literally "one sent" (12c.), noun use of past participle of envoyer "send," from Vulgar Latin *inviare "send on one's way," from Latin in "on" (see in- (2)) + via "road" (see via (adv.)). The same French word was borrowed in Middle English as envoi in the sense "stanza of a poem 'sending it off' to find readers" (late 14c.).
双语例句
1. Edwin H. Conger was envoy extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
埃德温·H.康格是特命全权公使。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The President's envoy set off on another diplomatic trip.
总统的使节开始了又一次外交之旅。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.
他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.