Adjacent Words

Sir definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SIR, n. sur.
1. A word or respect used in addresses to men, as madam is in addresses to women. It signifies properly lord, corresponding to dominus in Latin, in Spanish, and herr in German. It is used in the singular or plural. Speak on, sir. But sirs, be sudden in the execution.
2. The title of a knight or baronet; as Sir Horace Vere.
3. It is used by Shakespeare for man. In the election of a sir so rare. [Not in use.]
4. In American colleges, the title of a master of arts.
5. It is prefixed to loin, in sirloin; as a sirloin of beef. This practice is said to have originated in the knighting of a loin of beef by one of the English kings in a fit of good humor.
6. Formerly the title or a priest.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: term of address for a man
2: a title used before the name of knight or baronet

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from sire Date: 13th century 1. a. a man entitled to be addressed as sir — used as a title before the given name of a knight or baronet and formerly sometimes before the given name of a priest b. a man of rank or position 2. a. — used as a usually respectful form of address b. capitalized — used as a conventional form of address in the salutation of a letter

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a polite or respectful form of address or mode of reference to a man. 2 (Sir) a titular prefix to the forename of a knight or baronet. Etymology: ME, reduced form of SIRE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sir Sir, n. [OE. sire, F. sire, contr. from the nominative L. senior an elder, elderly person, compar. of senex,senis, an aged person; akin to Gr. ??? old, Skr. sana, Goth. sineigs old, sinista eldest, Ir. & Gael. sean old, W. hen. Cf. Seignior, Senate, Seneschal, Senior, Senor, Signor, Sire, Sirrah.] 1. A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. --Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. --Shak. 2. A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet. Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in the active part. --Bacon. 3. An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; -- formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy. --Nares. Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's word. --Latimer. 4. A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; -- used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality. ``What's that to you, sir?'' --Sheridan. Note: Anciently, this title, was often used when a person was addressed as a man holding a certain office, or following a certain business. ``Sir man of law.'' ``Sir parish priest.'' --Chaucer. Sir reverance. See under Reverence, n.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(sirs) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. People sometimes say sir as a very formal and polite way of addressing a man whose name they do not know or a man of superior rank. For example, a shop assistant might address a male customer as sir. Excuse me sir, but would you mind telling me what sort of car that is?... Good afternoon to you, sir. N-VOC [politeness] 2. Sir is the title used in front of the name of a knight or baronet. She introduced me to Sir Tobias and Lady Clarke. N-TITLE 3. You use the expression Dear sir at the beginning of a formal letter or a business letter when you are writing to a man. You use Dear sirs when you are writing to an organization. Dear Sir, Your letter of the 9th October has been referred to us. CONVENTION

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sur: In the Old Testament this word in Ge 43:20 the King James Version ('adhon) is changed in the Revised Version (British and American) into "my lord." In the New Testament the word sometimes represents aner, as in Ac 7:26; 14:15; 19:25, etc.; more frequently kurios, "lord," as in Mt 13:27; 21:30; 27:36; Joh 4:11,15,19,49 (the Revised Version margin "lord"); Joh 20:15. In Re 7:14, the Revised Version (British and American) renders "my lord."