Sir
[sɜː] or [sɝ]
Definition
(noun.) term of address for a man.
(noun.) a title used before the name of knight or baronet.
Inputed by Effie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire.
(n.) A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet.
(n.) An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; -- formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy.
(n.) A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; -- used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality.
Checker: Rita
Definition
n. a word of respect used in addressing a man: a gentleman: the title of a knight or baronet used along with the Christian name and surname as 'Sir David Pole:' formerly a common title of address for the clergy as a translation of L. dominus the term used for a bachelor of arts originally in contradistinction from the magister or master of arts—hence Sir John=a priest.—v.t. to address as 'sir.'
Checker: Percy
Examples
- No, indeed, sir,' returned Mrs. Sparsit, with a gentle melancholy upon her. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Tis just this, sir. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- On the second day he found his wife and Sir Percival whispering together quite familiar, close under the vestry of the church. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Nothing of the kind here, sir. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- What more can you expect from me, sir? Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Mr Boffin, sir? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I cordially invite you, sir, to second my efforts in the sacred interests of the family. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Mrs. Bardell, the plaintiff in the action, is within these walls, Sir. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Why, I am a boy, sir, to half a dozen old codgers here! Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- I will tell you it just as it happened, sir, said he. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Captain Lydgate's stupidity was delicately scented, carried itself with style, talked with a good accent, and was closely related to Sir Godwin. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Sir Thomas approved of it for another reason. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Dear, no, sir! Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- My own sister as a wife, Sir Thomas Bertram as a husband, are my standards of perfection. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- No, sir, such a man will look after himself and will look after his chums. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- And so would I, said the Friar; what, sirs! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Silence, sirs, said Waldemar, and let the Prince assume his seat. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- D'ye see, sirs? Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- And the books are dust and ashes--and oh, sirs! Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Richard alone, as if he loved the danger his presence had provoked, rode slowly along the front of the Templars, calling aloud, What, sirs! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- He's a fly-away chap, gents both, and a deal sight too handsome for my idea, sirs. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- So help me the Promise, fair sirs, said Isaac, even more alarmed than before, as no such sounds ever crossed my lips! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- I kin get ashore all safe, but I dunno 'bout you, sirs. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Well, I guess, sirs, we'd best take more rum, an' then explore this here island. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- My dear sirs, he has said all he has to say. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- To you four, sirs, replied the Knight, addressing those who had last spoken, and to your honourable and valiant masters, I have one common reply. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- There, there--good-morning--good-morning--now pray, my dear sirs--Mr. Lowten, the door! Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- All right, sirs? Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- When I went to Lunnon town sirs, Too rul loo rul Too rul loo rul Wasn't I done very brown sirs? Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
Edited by Ivan