sir
/səː
/(also Sir)
noun
1Used as a polite or respectful way of addressing a man, especially one in a position of authority: excuse me, sir...
- He cleared his throat before saying, ‘Excuse me, sirs, but if you don't calm down, we're going to have to ask you to leave.’
- ‘Please excuse me, sirs,’ Julian said quietly, then slipped away as discreetly as he could.
- We heard you say you want to get on with your life, but, with all due respect, sir, getting on with our lives isn't an option.
1.1Used to address a man at the beginning of a formal or business letter: Dear Sir...
- Dear Sir / Madam, We look for serious buyer for a coal mining exploration company.
- Dear Sir / Madam, we have logged your IP-address on more than 40 illegal Websites.
- Dear Sir, my address this afternoon consists of six parts.
1.2Used as a title before the forename of a knight or baronet.Arthur announced, 'You are indeed brave, sir knight, but the fight is mine!'....
- Wedding bells are in the air at Huntington Stadium after good sir knight Norris and fair maiden Rosemary Westmoreland recreated one of the happiest moments of their lives.
- You, sir knight,’ he pointed at Michael with his staff, ‘Have been chosen by the Lord for this age, and this time.’
1.3 another expression for siree.
Origin
Middle English: reduced form of sire.
A shortened form of sire that has been a title for a knight since the Middle Ages. Kings were formerly addressed as sire, though now the term is more often used for the male parent of an animal. Sire is from Latin senior (Late Middle English) ‘older, older man’, related to senex ‘old, old man’, from which senate and senile (mid 17th century) also derive. In languages descended from Latin, words based on senior often became the way of addressing a man, for example señor in Spanish, signor in Italian, and the second element of monsieur in French. See also senate