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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Forms of Address Terms

appellation, beatitude, brethren, emeritus, esquire, sous