I. R _sər, |sər, + vowel |sər.; - R _sə, (|)sə̄, South often |sə+ suffixal vowel ˈsər. also ˈsə̄r, + vowel in a following word _sə(r) or |sər. or (|)sə̄ or |sə also (|)sə̄r noun
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: Middle English, from sire — more at sire
1.
a. : a man of rank or position : gentleman , lord
some sir of note — Shakespeare
a very … petulant hot little sir — Saturday Review
b. : a man entitled to be addressed as sir : knight
the proprietor was now a sir — Max Beerbohm
— used as a title of honor before the given name of a knight or baronet
Sir Charles
Sir William Smith, Bart.
— formerly sometimes used as a title of honor before the names of historical or legendary figures
Sir Pandarus of Troy
and as a title of respect before the given name of a priest
Sir Robert, the parish priest
the medieval custom of calling any priest Sir John
2. obsolete — used often disparagingly as a form of address before a common noun (as of rank or occupation)
I am Sir Oracle — Shakespeare
3. obsolete — used in a British university before the surname of a bachelor of arts
4. — used as a usually respectful form of address (as to an older person, a superior, or the presiding officer of a legislative assembly)
your car is ready, sir
I'd be vry grateful, sir , for your advice
I rise, sir , to a point of personal privilege
5. — used as a conventional form of address in the salutation of a letter
Dear Sir
II. stressed forms at sir I transitive verb
( sirred ; sirred ; sirring ; sirs )
: to address as sir
thinks good discipline means sirring officers — A.C.Fields
III.
variant of seer