doyen

A doyen or doyenne (from the French word doyen, doyenne in the feminine grammatical gender) is the senior ambassador by length of service in a particular country. In the English language, the meaning of doyen (feminine form: doyenne) has been borrowed from French to refer to any senior member of a group, particularly one whose knowledge or abilities exceed those of other members. In the United States and other English-speaking countries, the title of Dean is often used for the seniormost member of the diplomatic corps. In many Catholic countries, the doyen of the diplomatic corps is the Apostolic Nuncio regardless of the length of service. In a number of former colonies in Africa, the ambassador of the former metropolis holds this position. A doyen or dean can only be a diplomatic represen...