sir

Etymology

From Middle English sir, borrowed from Old French sire (“master, sir, lord”), from Latin senior (“older, elder”), from senex (“old”). Compare sire, signor, seignior, señor.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɜː(ɹ)/
• (General American) enPR: ˈsûr, IPA^(key): /ˈsɝ/

  • Audio (US)

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• (Scotland) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪɹ/
• (Indian English) IPA^(key): /ˈsə(r)/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)

Noun

sir (plural sirs)

1. A man of a higher rank or position.
2. A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position, particularly:
   • 1991 May 12, "Kidnapped!" Jeeves and Wooster, Series 2, Episode 5:

     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.

   1. 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.

   2. to a superior military officer.

      Sir, yes sir.

   3. to a teacher.

      Here's my report, sir.

3. A respectful term of address to any male, especially if his name or proper title is unknown.

   Excuse me, sir, do you know the wifi password here?

4. (colloquial) Used as an intensifier after yes or no.

   Sir, yes sir.

Verb

sir (third-person singular simple present sirs, present participle sirring, simple past and past participle sirred)

1. To address (someone) using "sir".

   Sir, yes, sir!
   Don't you sir me, private! I work for a living!

See also

• lord
• (titles) (of a man): Mr (Mister, mister), Sir (sir); (of a woman): Ms (Miz, mizz), Mrs (Mistress, mistress), Miss (miss), Dame (dame), (of a non-binary person): Mx (Mixter); (see also): Dr (Doctor, doctor), Madam (madam, ma'am)

Further reading

• sir in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• sir in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• IRS, ISR, Isr., RIS, RSI, SRI

Verb

sir (past shir, future siridh, verbal noun sireadh, past participle sirte)

1. seek, search, look for

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *syrъ, derived from "sour milk"

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sîr/

Noun

sȉr m (Cyrillic spelling си̏р)

1. cheese

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *syrъ, derived from "sour milk"

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsír/
• Tonal orthography: sȉr

Noun

sìr m inan (genitive síra, nominative plural síri)

1. cheese

Noun

sir (plural sirlar)

1. secret
2. cheese

Etymology

Borrowed from English shire.

Noun

sir f (plural siroedd)

1. county, shire

Etymology

Cognate to Silt'e [script needed] (sa:r).

Noun

sir

1. grass

Etymology

Compare Persian سیر‎ (sir, “garlic”).

Noun

sir m

1. garlic

References

• Initial SLLE Survey of the Zway Area by Klaus Wedekind and Charlotte Wedekind