a diplomatic minister, especially one below the rank of ambassador, and their staff 外交使团(尤指低于大使级的公使馆) ■the official residence of a diplomatic minister 公使官邸
(archaic)the position or office of legate; a legateship (古)使节(职位) ■[mass noun]the sending of a legate, especially a papal legate, on a mission 使节(尤指罗马教皇的使节)派遣
语源
late Middle English (denoting the sending of a papal legate; also the mission itself): from Latin legatio(n-), from legare 'depute, delegate, bequeath'