sire

¹sire

noun \ˈsī(-ə)r\

Definition of SIRE

1

a : father

b archaic : male ancestor : forefather

c : author, originator

2

a archaic : a man of rank or authority; especially : lord —used formerly as a form of address and as a title

b obsolete : an elderly man : senior

3

: the male parent of an animal and especially of a domestic animal

Examples of SIRE

1. <his sire had been a renowned Wall Street lawyer>
2. <the revered sire of the impressionist movement in art>

Origin of SIRE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, lord, feudal superior, from Vulgar Latin *seior, alteration of Latin senior older — more at senior

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SIRE

Synonyms

dad, daddy, old man, pa, papa (also poppa), pater [chiefly British], pop, father

Related Words

paterfamilias, patriarch; father figure, father image; stepfather

Near Antonyms

disciple, follower, pupil, student, supporter

Other Forms of Address Terms

appellation, beatitude, brethren, emeritus, esquire, sous

²sire

transitive verb

siredsir·ing

Definition of SIRE

1

: beget —used especially of male domestic animals

2

: to bring into being : originate

Examples of SIRE

1. The horse sired several champion racers.
2. <the champion racehorse went on to sire a long line of winners>

First Known Use of SIRE

1611

Related to SIRE

Synonyms

beget, get, father

Related Words

multiply, procreate, propagate, reproduce, spawn; bear, engender, gender, generate, produce

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Rhymes with SIRE

briar, choir, fire, gyre, hire, ire, mire, prior, spire, squire, tier, tire, wire