siren.
/ˈsʌɪə/ I. As a title of distinction, especially placed before personal names, and related uses.† 1. Placed before personal names:in extended use.1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. x. 1 Sire Dowel dwelleþ..not a day hennes, In a Castel.1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. x. 19 Sire seowel and seywel,..And sire Godfrei Gowel, grete lordes alle.† b. Applied to persons of ancient history, or to ecclesiastics: cf. sir n. 2 and 4. Obsolete.† 2. † b. = sir n. 6b. Obsolete.
a. Denoting knighthood. = sir n. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for knight
sirec1275
sir1297
knightship1694
knighthood1828
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11220 Wulcume sire Arður wilcume lauerd.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 9066 Sire geffray, þat was erl of aungeo.
c1330 Amis & Amil. 44 He was callid Syre Amys..at his crystenyng.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 305 Þe firste ȝere of þe comynge of sire John, þe secounde kyng Henricus his sone, into Irlond.
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS xxix. i. 37 Þus sone Sire Rollo..Bi-sette þat Citee.
1495 Duchess of Norfolk in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 474 To my..frend[ys] S [er] e William Knevette, S[er]e John Paston, S[er]e Robert Clere, knyght[ys].
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > priest > [noun]
priesteOE
presbyterOE
sirec1290
beauperec1300
sirc1386
fatherhooda1393
fatherheada1434
paternity1439
pater1481
fathershipa1500
father1528
key-bearer?1531
key-keeper?1556
vicegerent1572
priestdom1588
sacerdosa1592
flasher1611
priesthooda1616
père1619
sacerdote1685
firekeeper1789
soggarth1836
priestship1868
soutane1890
joss-man1913
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for historical person of rank
sirec1290
sirc1330
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 21 Þe Erchebischope of Caunterburi sire Ode.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2009 To þis senatour..Sire maximian.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 785 Sire Eneas was þer-of fayn.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 192 And þanne strumpatis & þeuys preisen sire iacke or hobbe & williem þe proude clerk.
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 407 A frenche romance that sire Robert, Bisschope a lycoln, made.
a. With common nouns, = sir n. 6. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [noun] > title > for a man > used with profession
sirec1290
sir1297
mastera1470
goodman1484
goody1582
(a)
(b)c1386 G. Chaucer Nun's Pr. Prol. 26 Wherfore sire Monk daun Piers by youre name I pray yow [etc.].c1386 G. Chaucer Nun's Pr. Prol. (Corpus) 44 Come ner sire prest com hider sir Iohn.c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 840 And ye sire Clerc. lat be youre shamefastnesse.c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 15 ‘Sire Aumperour,’ he seide.
a1300 Havelok 2861 Sire erl,.. And þou wile mi consayl tro, Ful wel shal ich with þe do.
c1400 Brut lvi. 50 Þerfore, sire kyng,..we bene comen into ȝoure lande.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 837 Sire knyght quod he, my mayster and my lord.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. ix Syre kynge god yeue good helthe.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 264 ‘By my feyth, sire knight,’ said geffray.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [noun] > contemptuous title
sirc1386
sirec1386
sirrah1591
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 242 Sire [v.r. Sir] olde lecchour, lat thy Iapes be.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 29 Sire musarde.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 28 By my feyth, sire vassal, hit commeth to you of grette pryde [etc.].
3. † b. = sir n. 7b. Obsolete.† c. = sir n. 7c. Obsolete.
a. Without following noun. In early use = sir n. 7 .Now only archaic (= ‘your majesty’) or as an echo of French usage.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > titles applied to royalty
sire?c1225
His (also Her) Majestya1387
realty1400
rialnessc1450
R1466
royalty1543
Royal Highness1555
M1581
Ma.1584
majestyship1594
serenissimo1665
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 42 Leoue sire..is hit nu swa ouer vuel for tototin vtward.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 49 ‘A, sire,’ quath þe luþere Quiene,..‘Furst ichulle to þe drinke’.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 301 ‘Ha, lieve sire,’ tho quod sche, ‘Now tak the harpe’.
a1400 K. Alis. (W.) 2099 A knyght com sone rennyng, And saide, ‘Sire, up on hast!’
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vii. xviii. 240 Sire said the reed knyght..al this wil I do as ye commaunde.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 267 Sire, the kyng is departed from hens.
1680 W. Temple Ess. Orig. & Nature Govt. in Wks. (1720) I. 100 The peculiar Compellation of the King in France, is by the Name of Sire.]
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 3 By heaven! Sire, it is not well done.
1820 P. B. Shelley Œdipus Tyrannus i. 11 Your sacred Majesty... They are in waiting, Sire.
1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) II. 357 ‘Sire,’ said he, ‘there has been a battle before Pavia’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [noun] > for a man > for men
sirea1375
sirs1459
my masters?a1500
gentleman1578
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2248 Herkenes nowe, hende sires, ȝe han herd ofte, wich a cri has be cried.
a1375 Lay-Folks Mass-bk. App. iv. 257 Certes, sires; ful good hit is To stonde stille at þe Mes.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 2747 Considereth, sires, I am oon of þo [etc.].
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 6 Gentyl seres, herkens to me.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 271 After, after, fayre sires.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [noun] > for a man > in correspondence
sire1426
sir?1472
1426 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 6 Right worthy and worshepefull seres and maistres.
1490 Paston Lett. III. 363.
II. A person who exercises dominion, a lord; also a parent and related uses.in extended use.1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 568 The mind and conduct..: Each, sire and dam of an infernal race, Begetting and conceiving all that's base.
4. † b. A lord or ruler of a specified place. Obsolete.
a. One who exercises dominion or rule; a lord, master, or sovereign. In Middle English frequently in phrase lord and sire. Now rare or Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > lord > [noun]
lordOE
lordingOE
sire1297
damc1300
lordlingc1300
flaith1861
flath1873
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6556 He wende aboute as noble sire fram londe to londe.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 440 (MED) He..sette him heist in his hall, Als prince and sire ouer oþer all.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1260 Þay..Þat sumtyme sete in her sale syres & burdes.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 39 And sa was Romulus all hale lord and syre.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 217 This yonglynge..aftyr be-came a grete Sire in the realme.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ix. iv. 58 Soupyt in wyne and sleip [are] baith man and syre.
c1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xviii. iv Then thundred heav'nly sire.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 263 Podagra..quietly laid herselfe downe at the feete of this corsie sire.
1812 P. B. Shelley Devil's Walk xxviii With delight its Sire to see Hell's adamantine limits burn.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > lord > [noun] > of a place
sire1338
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 14 In Charlemayn courte, sire of Saynt Dinys.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 250 Of thilke Empire He was coroned Lord and Sire.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 22256 A king..þat of þe romani sal Impire Hali lauerd be and sire.
1415 T. Hoccleve To Sir J. Oldcastle 265 Almighty god thow lord of al, and Syre.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 25 Where is Pirrus, that was lord and sire Of Ynd?
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Eiv Syrus that soleme syar of Babylon.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 217 For his reward.., Of tha landis tha maid him lord and syre.
5. A person of some note or importance; an aged or elderly man. Also generally: man, fellow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > man > [noun]
churla800
werec900
rinkeOE
wapmanc950
heOE
wyeOE
gomeOE
ledeOE
seggeOE
shalkOE
manOE
carmanlOE
mother bairnc1225
hemea1250
mother sona1250
hind1297
buck1303
mister mana1325
piecec1325
groomc1330
man of mouldc1330
hathela1350
sire1362
malea1382
fellowa1393
guestc1394
sergeant?a1400
tailarda1400
tulka1400
harlotc1405
mother's sona1470
frekea1475
her1488
masculinea1500
gentlemana1513
horse?a1513
mutton?a1513
merchant1549
child1551
dick1553
sorrya1555
knavea1556
dandiprat1556
cove1567
rat1571
manling1573
bird1575
stone-horse1580
loona1586
shaver1592
slave1592
copemate1593
tit1594
dog1597
hima1599
prick1598
dingle-dangle1605
jade1608
dildoa1616
Roger1631
Johnny1648
boy1651
cod1653
cully1676
son of a bitch1697
cull1698
feller1699
chap1704
buff1708
son of a gun1708
buffer1749
codger1750
Mr1753
he-man1758
fella1778
gilla1790
gloak1795
joker1811
gory1819
covey1821
chappie1822
Charley1825
hombre1832
brother-man1839
rooster1840
blokie1841
hoss1843
Joe1846
guy1847
plug1848
chal1851
rye1851
omee1859
bloke1861
guffin1862
gadgie1865
mug1865
kerel1873
stiff1882
snoozer1884
geezer1885
josser1886
dude1895
gazabo1896
jasper1896
prairie dog1897
sport1897
crow-eater1899
papa1903
gink1906
stud1909
scout1912
head1913
beezer1914
jeff1917
pisser1918
bimbo1919
bozo1920
gee1921
mush1936
rye mush1936
basher1942
okie1943
mugger1945
cat1946
ou1949
tess1952
oke1970
bra1974
muzhik1993
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [noun]
kingeOE
master-spiritc1175
douzepersc1330
sire1362
worthya1375
lantern1382
sira1400
greatc1400
noblec1400
persona1425
lightc1425
magnate?a1439
worthyman1439
personagec1460
giant1535
honourablec1540
triedc1540
magnifico1573
ornament1573
signor1583
hero1592
grandee1604
prominent1608
name1611
magnificent1612
choice spirita1616
illustricity1637
luminary1692
lion1715
swell1786
notable1796
top-sawyer1826
star1829
celebrity1831
notability1832
notoriety1841
mighty1853
tycoon1861
reputation1870
public figure1871
star turn1885
headliner1896
front-pager1899
legend1899
celeb1907
big name1909
big-timer1917
Hall of Famer1948
megastar1969
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. xi. 62 Nou is vche boye bold broþel an oþer, To talken of þe Trinite to beon holden a syre.
c1440 Ipomydon 1643 He semyd a fole, that queynte syre, Bothe by hede and by atyre.
c1500 Debate Carpenter's Tools in Rev. Eng. Stud. (1987) 38 461 The wymbull spekys lyke a syre.
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 44 Fra sic a syre God ȝow saif, my sueit sisteris deir.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. iv. 32 That maliciouse and crafty olde syre.
1587 R. Hakluyt tr. R. de Laudonnière Notable Hist. Foure Voy. Florida f. 21v Our men regarding his age, began to make much of him,..whereat ye old sier shewed himselfe very glad.
1590 Cobler of Caunterburie 16 This Smith..was a quaint sire, As merry as byrd on brier.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 719 At length a Reverend Sire among them came. View more context for this quotation
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 61 To name an infant, met our village-sires.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles v. xxiv. 205 ‘What says the monk?’—‘The holy Sire Owns, that..She sought his skiff.’
6. attributive and in other combinations.1832 W. Motherwell Poems 19 'Tis Harold—'tis the Sire-bereaved—Who goads the dread career.a1849 J. C. Mangan Poems (1859) 442 Shame to me,..my sire-land, Not to know thy soil and skies!
a. A father; a male parent; also, a forefather. (Cf. grandsire n. 1) Now chiefly poetic.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > parent > father > [noun]
fatherOE
sirec1250
authora1398
flesh-fathera1400
genitor1447
daddy1523
dad1533
bab1598
patera1600
dada1672
relieving officer1677
papa1681
pappy1722
baba1771
pa1773
governor1783
paw1826
fatherkin1839
pop1840
bap1842
pap1844
da1851
baba1862
puppa1885
pops1893
poppa1897
pot and pan1900
papasana1904
daddy-o1913
bapu1930
baby-father1932
abba1955
birth father1977
c1250 Lutel Soth Serm. 81 in Old Eng. Misc. 190 Hire sire and hire dame þreteþ hire to bete.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. Prol. 189 I herde my sire seyn..Þere þe catte is a kitoun, þe courte is ful elyng.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Phyllis. 2492 Fals in loue was he rygh as his syre.
14.. Sir Beues 1283 + 244 He made a fyre And threwe þer yn dam & syre.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13198 Þat noble he stale Fro the souerain hir Syre, & soght with hir furth.
1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. Ded. sig. *iiij Whose sire was the olde Earle of Bedforde.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 40 Pyrrhus shortlye wyl hither, Thee soon fast bye the syre; thee syre that murthred at altars.
1674 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 86 His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire, He who obtains the Monarchy of Heav'n.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 104 Nor be with harmful parsimony won To follow what our homely Sires have done. View more context for this quotation
1753 T. Gray Hymn to Adversity in Six Poems 25 When first thy Sire to send on earth Virtue, his darling Child, design'd.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. ii. 57 The sceptre of his sires he took.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles ii. xxxii. 78 In distant ages, sire to son Shall tell thy tale of freedom won.
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. iii. 220 My sire the daughter gave him, and the government.
b. figurative and transferred.
ΚΠ
1718 M. Prior Flies Sire of Insects, mighty Sol.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 674 Profusion is the sire.
1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais iv. 8 He died, Who was the Sire of an immortal strain.
1871 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue vi. 245 The venerable sire of Gothic philology, Jacob Grimm.
7. A male parent of a quadruped; esp. a stallion. Correlative to dam.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > [noun] > parts of > (parts) of foot > quadruped > male parent of
sire?1530
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by gender or age > [noun] > male > stallion or stud-horse > as father or grandfather
sire?1530
grandsire1692
?1530 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry (rev. ed.) f. xxxv She shall haue moost comenly a sandy colte..neyther lyke syre nor dame.
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 54 Beastes haue no other care of their yong ones, but onely..vntill they bee able to feede..themselues: afterward, both syre and damme and little ones forget one another.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 292 The Pharsalian mares euermore bring foales very like their Syre.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 2 So Kids and Whelps their Syres and Dams express.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man iii. 126 Thus Beast, and Bird, their common Charge attend, The Mothers nurse it, and the Sires defend.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 274 Although both sire and dam may possess some good points, yet in the offspring these will be lost.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany iii. 30 They must not feed their sires upon straw.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
sirev.
/ˈsʌɪə/ transitive. To beget or procreate; to become the sire of:in extended use.1902 O. Wister Virginian xiv. 160 The blamed thing was sired by a whole doggone Dutch syndicate.
a. Of persons, or in general use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > multiply or reproduce [verb (transitive)] > beget
sowc1250
getc1300
begeta1325
engenderc1330
conceivec1350
makea1382
wina1400
fathera1425
rutc1450
tread1594
sirea1616
engraff1864
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iv. ii. 26 Cowards father Cowards, & Base things Syre Bace.
1835 H. W. Longfellow Outre-Mer in Prose Wks. (1886) I. 119 He was a gross, corpulent fellow,..sired by a comic actor.
1891 I. Zangwill Bachelor's Club 82 His father had just that measure of talent which so often sires a genius.
b. spec. Of animals, esp. horses. (The more frequent use.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by gender or age > [verb (transitive)] > make mare pregnant
sire1828
foal1891
1828–32 in N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1882 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 July 6/2 These also are animals with rare pedigrees... Several are sired by Kisber.
1894 J. D. Astley Fifty Years of my Life II. 190 He sired some real good hunters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.?c1225
v.a1616