It's still the same old W.O.W. (word of the week), more or less, just thought I'd confuse you a bit. Or myself, maybe.
Anyway, today's word is "plenipotentiary".
Tom brought it up at a recent dance lesson. He's reading a biography of Benjamin Franklin.
As always, I had to admit that I'd heard the word, but couldn't define it.
Here it is: "A person, especially a diplomatic agent, invested with full power or authority to transact business on behalf of another."
From the Latin: Plens or "full" and potens (power, powerful).
Adding insult to injury, I had dinner at my folks last night, and asked if they knew what the word meant, and they both did, with no prompting. Of course, they were career Foreign Service, so I guess it gives them the edge on that one.
The book that started the discussion is A Great Improvisation by Stacy Schiff, about the time in 1776 when Franklin was dispatched to Paris, with no money and little French, but with full power and a mission to secure French help for our revolution. By all reports, it is an excellent read. Okay, by the one report I've gotten.
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