noun
sir
sur
noun
1
A polite or respectful way to address a man, especially one of higher rank, a stranger, or a teacher.
"Excuse me, sir, is this seat taken?"
"Yes, sir, right away."
2
The title used before the first name of a knight.
"He was knighted and is now known as Sir Paul."
How to Use Sir
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA respectful term for addressing a man, or the title given to knights.
Common pairings
yes, sir
Sir (name)
dear sir
Word Forms
sirred past tense, sirs plural, sirs singular
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Excuse me, _____, is this seat taken?
Etymology
From Middle English sir, an unstressed form of sire, ultimately from Latin senior ("older, elder").