Ambassador

In international law. A public minister sent abroad by some sovereign state or prince, with a legal commission and authority to transact business on behalf of his country with the government to which he is sent. Ambassadors extraordinary are those employed on particular or extraordinary occasions, or residing at a foreign court for an indeterminate period. Vattel, lib. 4, c. 6, §§ 70-79. Ambassadors ordinary are those sent on permanent missions. An ambassador is a minister of the highest rank. The United States were formerly represented by ministers plenipotentiary, sending no person of the rank of an ambassador, in the diplomatic sense. 1 Kent, Comm. 39, note. Ambassadors are now sent by the United States to Japan and the principal nations of Europe and South America. AMBIDEXTER (Lat.) Skillful with both hands. Applied anciently to an attorney who took pay from both sides, and subsequently to a juror guilty of the same offense. Cowell. AMBIGUA RESPONSIO CONTRA PROferentem est acclpienda. An ambiguous answer is to be taken against the party who offers it. 10 Coke, 58. AMBIGUIS CASIBUS SEMPER PRAEsumitur pro rege. In doubtful cases the presumption is always in favor of the king. Lofft, 248. AMBIGUITAS VERBORUM LATENS verlficatione suppletur; nam quod ex facto oritur ambiguum verlficatione fact! tollitur. A latent ambiguity may be supplied by evidence, for an ambiguity which arises out of a fact may be removed by proof of the fact. Bac. Max. reg. 23; 8 Bing. 247. See 1 Powell, Dev. 477; 2 Kent, Comm. 557; Broom, Leg. Max. (3d London Ed.) 541; 13 Pet. (U. S.) 97; 8 Johns. (N. Y.) 90; 3 Halst. (N. J.) 71. AMBIGUITAS VERBORUM PATENS nulla verlficatione excluditur. A patent ambiguity is never holpen by averment. Lofft, Story, J., 1 Mason (U. S.) 11; Lipscomb, J., 1 Tex. 377, 383. AMBIGUITY (Lat. ambiguitas, indistinctness; duplicity). Duplicity, indistinctness, or uncertainty of meaning of an expression used in a written instrument. The term does not include mere inaccuracy, or such uncertainty as arises from the use of peculiar words, or of common words ia a peculiar sense (Wigram, Wills, 174; 3 Sim. 24; 3 Man. & G. 452; 8 Mete. [Mass.] 576; 13 Vt. 36. See 21 Wend. [N. Y.] 651), and intends such expressions as would be found of uncertain meaning by persons of competent skill and information (1 Greenl. Ev. § 298). It has also been confined to duplicity of meaning, and thus distinguished from general uncertainty. 2 Pars. Cont. 557, note. Latent ambiguity is that which arises from some collateral circumstance or extrinsic matter in cases where the instrument itself is sufficiently certain and intelligible. 1 Gray (Mass.) 134. Patent ambiguity is that which appears on the face of the instrument; that which occurs yrhen the expression of an instrument is so defective that a court of law which is obliged to put a construction upon it, placing itself in the situation of the parties, cannot ascertain therefrom the parties' intention. 4 Mass. 205; 4 Cranch (U. S.) 167; 1 Greenl. Ev. § 292-300. AMBIGUUM PLACITUM INTERPRETARI debet contra proferentem. An ambiguous plea ought to be interpreted against the party pleading it. Co. Litt. 303b; Broom, Leg. Max. (3d London Ed.) 535; Steph. PI. (5th Ed.) 415; Bac. Max. reg. 3; 2 H. BL 531; 2 Mees. & W. 444.

A diplomatic agent; a person sent by one sovereign power to another, with authority to treat on affairs of state.

See Minister, 3.

[Lat. legatus; L. Lat. ambasciator, ambassiator, q. v.] In international law. A diplomatic minister or agent; a person sent by one sovereign power to another, with authority to treat on affairs of state. 4 Inst. 153. 1 Kent's Com. 39. Tomlins. Ambassadors belong to the first class of public ministers. Wheaton's Elem. Intern. Law, 264.