chargé d'affairesn.
1. A minister who transacts diplomatic business at a foreign court during the temporary absence of the ambassador; also, the representative of a country at a less important foreign court, to which a diplomatist of higher grade is not appointed.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > diplomacy > [noun] > ambassador or envoy > resident ambassador > chargéd'affaires
chargé d'affaires1767
1767 W. Musgrave Let. 22 Dec. in 15th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1897) App. vi. 222 And conclude it [sc. the ceremony] will be sent with your Ribband to the Chargé des Affaires at Turin to serve as a precedent for your Investiture.
1768 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 12 Apr. (1932) (modernized text) VI. 2845 Keith is rather inclined to go to Turin, as Chargé d'Affaires.
1783 J. Adams Wks. (1853) VIII. 130 In conversation yesterday with M. d'Asp, the chargé des affaires in Sweden.
1819 Acts U.S. 15th Congr. 56 The Charge des Affaires at London, the Hague and Stockholm.
1836 Mrs. S. C. Stevenson Let. 13 July in E. Boykin Victoria, Albert, & Mrs. S. (1957) 17 Mr. Vail's function as Chargé ceases on the day of the Minister's presentation.
1876 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) VI. Index 547/2 Garnier, French chargé at London.
1878 J. Morley Diderot II. 111 Gunning, the English chargé d'affaires.
1914 E. A. Powell Fighting in Flanders iv. 97 The Swedish and Mexican chargés.
1966 G. Greene Comedians i. iv. 112 The chargé would have disapproved of my cuckolding a member of the diplomatic corps.
2. gen. Man or officer in charge (for the time).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > director
mastereOE
steerc897
ordainerc1443
director1477
rector1482
sayer1483
orderer1496
solicitera1530
temperator1591
ordinator1615
sternera1634
dirigent1756
chargé d'affaires1797
quarterback1931
1797 W. Scott Let. 8 Mar. (1932) I. 64 I have the honour to be Secretary & Chargé d'affaires to the Royal Corps of Edinr. Volunteer light Dragoons.
1826 F. Reynolds Life & Times I. v. 174 To be selected as the family man of business—the chargé d'affaires on a grand mission.
1850 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis II. xlvi The Pall Mall Gazette, of which he acted as the editor and chargé d'affaires during the temporary absence of the chief.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1767