mission

mis•sion

[[t]ˈmɪʃ ən[/t]] n.

1) a group or committee of persons sent to a foreign country to conduct negotiations, establish relations, provide technical assistance, or the like

2) a specific task that a person or group of persons is sent to perform

3) a permanent diplomatic establishment abroad; embassy

4) rel a group of persons sent by a church to carry on religious work, esp. evangelization in foreign lands, and often to establish schools, hospitals, etc

5) rel the place of work of such persons, or the territory of their responsibility

6) mil a military operational task, usu. assigned by a higher headquarters:

a bombing mission[/ex]

7) ars an aerospace operation designed to carry out the goals of a specific program

8) an allotted or self-imposed duty or task; calling:

one's mission in life[/ex]

9) rel a place for evangelical and philanthropic work, esp. in a poor urban area

10) rel a series of special religious services for increasing religious devotion and for conversion

11) rel a church or region with a nonresident minister or priest

12) of or pertaining to a mission

13) fur (usu. cap.) of or designating a style of U.S. furniture of the early 20th century, developed in supposed imitation of the furnishings of Spanish missions in California and characterized by simple, rectilinear shapes and the use of dark, stained oak

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Etymology: 1590–1600; < L missiō a sending off =mitt(ere) to send +-tiō -tion