sir

UK /sɜː(ɹ)/ US /sɜː(ɹ)/
noun 10name 2verb 1adj 1

Definitions

noun

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.

3

A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position

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

Sir, yes sir.

5

A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position

Here's my report, sir.

verb

1

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!

noun

1

Alternative letter-case form of sir.

“Every minute,” continued M. Krempe with warmth, “every instant that you have wasted on those books is utterly and entirely lost. You have burdened your memory with exploded systems, and useless names. Good God! in what desert land have you lived, where no one was kind enough to inform you that these fancies, which you have so greedily imbibed, are a thousand years old, and as musty as they are ancient? I little expected in this enlightened and scientific age to find a disciple of Albertus Magnus and Paracelsus. My dear Sir, you must begin your studies entirely anew.”

The family tree boasts an astonishing array of celebrated historical figures from the prophet Isaiah to Sir Isaiah Berlin, from Felix Mendelssohn to Karl Marx and Moses Montefiore. The list also includes Yehudi Menuhin, Helena Rubinstein, the Rothschilds and even Rosenstein himself.

2

The titular prefix given to a knight or baronet.

3

A respectful term of address or reference to a man of higher rank or position before the man's given name or nickname.

Your note

not saved
0 chars