MR.

noun (plural Messrs.) Etymology: ~ from Middle English, abbreviation of maister master; Messrs. abbreviation of Messieurs, from French, plural of Monsieur Date: 15th century 1. — used as a conventional title of courtesy except when usage requires the substitution of a title of rank or an honorific or professional title before a man's surname 2. — used in direct address as a conventional title of respect before a man's title of office 3. — used before the name of a place (as a country or city) or of a profession or activity (as a sport) or before some epithet (as clever) to form a title applied to a male viewed or recognized as representative of the thing indicated