The word "plenipotentiary" is spelled [ˌplɛnɪpəˈtɛnʃəri], with the stress on the second syllable. The first part of the word, "plenipotent," comes from the Latin word plenus, meaning "full" or "complete," and potent, meaning "powerful." Thus, "plenipotent" means "having full power or authority." The second part of the word, "-tiary," is derived from the Latin word "tārium," indicating "person who does or makes," hence "person who has full power or authority." Therefore, a "plenipotentiary" is someone who has full authority or power to act on behalf of a particular government or organization.
A plenipotentiary is a noun that refers to a person who has been vested with full power or authority to act independently on behalf of a government or organization. The term is derived from the Latin words "plenipotens," meaning full power, and "potens," meaning powerful. A plenipotentiary is typically appointed by a government to represent their interests, negotiate agreements, or participate in diplomatic discussions with other countries or international organizations.
This individual is granted the highest level of authority and has the ability to make decisions and sign treaties or agreements without requiring further consent from their appointing government. They act as the official representative and spokesperson, possessing the power to negotiate on various matters, including political, economic, or legal affairs. Plenipotentiaries usually attend international conferences or meetings to engage in discussions or bargaining sessions on important issues affecting their home nation or organization.
The term "plenipotentiary" is often used in the context of diplomatic relations and international affairs, signifying the influential role the appointed person possesses. Their responsibilities may involve fostering relationships, resolving disputes, or ensuring the recognition of their government's policies. Plenipotentiaries play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral or multilateral relations by advancing their government's interests and promoting cooperation among nations.
• Having or containing full power.
• A person, particularly an ambassador, who is invested with full powers to negotiate a particular business or a treaty; a resident minister at a foreign court.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "plenipotentiary" originated from Latin and is a combination of two Latin words: "plenus", meaning "full", and "potens", meaning "powerful" or "capable". In English, "plenipotentiary" was first recorded in the mid-17th century and referred to a person who possesses full powers, especially in a diplomatic context.