Plenipotentiary

From Freepedia

The term plenipotentiary (from the Latin, plenus + potens, full + power) refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term is commonly used to refer to a diplomat or ambassador who is fully authorised to represent his government.

Historically, before systems of rapid international transport (such as cars, trains and aircraft) or virtually instantaneous communication (such as radio or telephone) were commonplace, ambassadors were granted full (plenipotentiary) powers to represent their government in negotiations with their host nation, in the expectation that any representations made or agreements reached with an ambassador would be recognised and complied with by the ambassador's government. In modern times, heads of state and of government, and more junior ministers and officials, can easily meet or speak with each other personally, so ambassadors arguably do not require plenipotentiary powers, but they continue to be designated and accredited as extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

This word has been voted as one of the ten English words that are hardest to translate in June 2004 by Today Translations, a British translation company [1]. However, almost the exact word exists in at least some of the Romance languages (such as Portuguese - plenipotenciário; French - plénipotentiaire), with the exact same meaning, as well as in other languages (for instance, German - Bevollmächtigt, Swedish fullmaktig and Finnish täysivaltainen).