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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

sir en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • audio
  • /sə(ɹ)/ (unstressed)
  • /sɛː/ Humberside, Teesside
  • /sɜː/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /sɜɹ/ (General-American)
  • /søː/ (New-Zealand, Wales)
  • sûr
  • /seː/ Liverpool
  • /sɪɾ/ (Scotland)
  • /sæːɾ/ Tamil Nadu
  • sâr fair–fur merger

Etymology

From Middle English sir, unstressed form of sire, borrowed from Old French sire (“master, sir, lord”), from Latin senior (“older, elder”), from senex (“old”). Doublet of seigneur, seignior, senhor, senior, señor, senyor, signore, and sire.

Meanings

  1. A man of a higher rank or position.
  2. A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position, particularly
    • Jeeves: Foreign travel often liberates emotions best kept in check, sir. The air of North America is notoriously stimulating in this regard, as witness the regrettable behavior of its inhabitants in 1776. B. Wooster: Hm? What happened in 1776, Jeeves? Jeeves: I prefer not to dwell on it, if it's convenient to you, sir. 1991 May 12, “Kidnapped!”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 2, Episode 5:
  3. A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position ▸ to a knight or other low member of the peerage.
    • Just be careful. He gets whingy now if you don't address him as Sir John.
  4. A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position ▸ to a superior military officer.
    • Sir, yes sir.
  5. A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position ▸ to a teacher.
    • Here's my report, sir.
  6. A respectful term of address to an adult male (often older), especially if his name or proper title is unknown.
    • Knowledge, sir, should be free to all! 1967 November 3, I, Mudd (Star Trek) (Science Fiction), Roger C. Carmel (actor), Paramount Domestic Television:
    • Excuse me, sir, do you know the way to the art museum?

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
sirs Number=Plur lexicographic
saar India, alternative lexicographic

Coordinates

miss · ma'am · ma'am · miss · madam

Deriveds

sirrah · dear Sirs · yessuh · nossuh · sir sandwich · yessir · sirji · mamsir · Sir John Lack-Latin · siress · dear Sir or Madam · dear Sir · don't call me sir, I work for a living · surly · sirree · Sir Francis Drake Channel · siree

Descendants

சார் · sir · 阿Sir · सर · സാർ · স্যার

Relateds

senate · senior · senex · sire

Translations (193)

ja お兄さん (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · mk господин (man of a higher rank or position) · tg оқо (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ky мырза (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · pt senhor (man of a higher rank or position) · sv herre (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ar سَيِّد (title of a nobleman) · sk pán (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · gl señor (address to a military superior) · pl pan (man of a higher rank or position) · ko -씨 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fr madame (title of a nobleman) · mk госпо́дине (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · lo ທ່ານເອີຽ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · it signore (address to a military superior) · hi महोदय (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · uz agʻa (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fr monsieur (title of a nobleman) · lo ທ່ານ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · nl meneer (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ht konpè (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · la dominus (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ru господи́н (address to a military superior) · hi श्रीमान (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ka ბატონო (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ur صاحَب (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · mnc ᠠᡤᡠ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tr efendi (title of a nobleman) · uk пан (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · la domine (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tr beyefendi (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · my ဦး (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · da herre (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · hi सर (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · gl señor (man of a higher rank or position) · tr ağa (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · es don (title of a nobleman) · ar بَاشَا (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tt әфәнде (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · cs pan (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · de mein Herr (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ja 旦那様 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ar سَيِّدَة (title of a nobleman) · sl gospod (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ro doamnă (title of a nobleman) · my ခင်ဗျာ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · cmn 先生 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · it signore (man of a higher rank or position) · el κύριος (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ca senyor (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · pl pan (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fi herra (man of a higher rank or position) · ota افندی (title of a nobleman) · bn জনাব (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · he אֲדוֹנִי (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · wni mwenye (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · sh gospòdin (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ky байке (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · eo sinjoro (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · de Herr (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ar أُسْتَاذ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fa-ira آقا (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · uz afandi (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · hu uram (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ru господи́н (man of a higher rank or position) · kmr birêz (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ug ئەپەندىم (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · pt dom (title of a nobleman) · pl panie (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ky аке (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · uz janob (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · nl meneer (man of a higher rank or position) · yue 阿蛇 (address to a military superior) · dng щянсын (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · da hr. (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · pt dona (title of a nobleman) · tr komutanım (address to a military superior) · ne श्रीमान (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · prs جَنَاب (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · it don (title of a nobleman) · fr monsieur (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · kmr efendî (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ug ئەپەندى (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ro domn (title of a nobleman) · la-ecc dominus (title of a nobleman) · la-ecc domina (title of a nobleman) · nl heer (man of a higher rank or position) · yi הער (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ne श्री (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · he המפקד (address to a military superior) · ru су́дарь (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · lt ponas (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · lv kungs (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ta சார் (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · hu úr (man of a higher rank or position) · ps صاحب (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · nl mijnheer (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ar سَيِّد (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · vi ngài (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ht mesye (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ps آغا (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fur missâr (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ug ئۇستاز (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · az cənab (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · mi(address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · sk pane (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · sw afande (address to a military superior) · enm sire (man of a higher rank or position) · hi जनाब (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · be пан (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ckb کاک (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ro domn (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · vi ông (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fi herra (address to a military superior) · it madama (title of a nobleman) · ms ustaz (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ms tuan (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · bg господи́н (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · lt pone (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · it signore (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ru господи́н (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · cs pán (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ta ஐயா (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fa-ira جَناب (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ky господин (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ps ښاغلى (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · et härra (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ug جاناپ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · az ağa (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ar أَفَنْدِي (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · el κύριε (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ar سَيِّدِي (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · el Σέρ (man of a higher rank or position) · kk мырза (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · pt senhor (address to a military superior) · uk пан (man of a higher rank or position) · ar حَضْرَتَك (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · cs pane (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tg оғо (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · qu wiraqucha (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fi herra (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · pt senhor (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · km ភោ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fur signôr (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · hi साहिब (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · sq zotëri (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · is herra (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · es señor (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · id tuan (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · kmr mîrza (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ps آقا (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ur جَناب (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · bal واجہ (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ur صاحِب (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · yue 先生 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · nan-hbl 先生 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ro să trăiți (address to a military superior) · bg господи́н (man of a higher rank or position) · ur سَر (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · sh госпо̀дин (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ru това́рищ (address to a military superior) · yue(address to a military superior) · ja(address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · lt ponas (man of a higher rank or position) · it donna (title of a nobleman) · prs آقَا (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · es doña (title of a nobleman) · mn ноён (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · nl meneer (address to a military superior) · my ရှင် (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · hi श्री (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · id ustaz (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · be спада́р (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ja 旦那 (man of a higher rank or position) · tk jenap (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ko 아저씨 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · wlc bwana (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ja 旦那 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tr efendim (man of a higher rank or position) · az efendi (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tr efendim (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · mk го́сподин (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · ko 선생님 (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tg ҷаноб (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · lv sers (man of a higher rank or position) · hy պարոն (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · tr efendi (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · oc senhor (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · kmr kek (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · nb herre (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · grc μακάριε (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · sv herr (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown) · fur siôr (address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown)

Source: en.wiktionary, “sir” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

sir en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • audio
  • /sə(ɹ)/ (unstressed)
  • /sɛː/ Humberside, Teesside
  • /sɜː/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /sɜɹ/ (General-American)
  • /søː/ (New-Zealand, Wales)
  • sûr
  • /seː/ Liverpool
  • /sɪɾ/ (Scotland)
  • /sæːɾ/ Tamil Nadu
  • sâr fair–fur merger

Etymology

From Middle English sir, unstressed form of sire, borrowed from Old French sire (“master, sir, lord”), from Latin senior (“older, elder”), from senex (“old”). Doublet of seigneur, seignior, senhor, senior, señor, senyor, signore, and sire.

Meanings

  1. (informal, transitive) To address another individual using "sir".
    • Sir, yes, sir! —Don't you sir me, private! I work for a living!
    • Don't "Sir" me, young man, you have no idea who you're dealing with! 1997, Ed Solomon, Men in Black, spoken by Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones):

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
sirring Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
sirs Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
saar India, alternative lexicographic
sirred Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
sirred Tense=Past lexicographic

Coordinates

ma'am · mam

Relateds

lord

Translations (4)

it dare del Lei (to address (someone) using "sir") · fr vouvoyer (to address (someone) using "sir") · de Siezen (to address (someone) using "sir") · hu uraz (to address (someone) using "sir")