Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ser” come from?

Sir comes from Middle English sire, from Old French sire, from Latin senior, the comparative form of senex meaning "old."

ser (English): Abbreviation of serial; An address or courtesy...

Definitions

  1. Abbreviation of serial; An address or courtesy...

Ancestry of “ser”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishserAlternative form of sire; Alternative form of...
2Middle Englishseredry, withered, shrunken, brittle; Individual,...
3Old Norsesérdative of sik; second/third-person singular...
4Old Norsesikoneself
5Proto-GermanicsikAlternative form of *sek
6Proto-Germanicsīkątrickling water; a dribble; a slow brook; a...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanseykʷ-to moisten; to filter
8Proto-Indo-Europeansey-to be wet; dribble; run; to stretch one's arm;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sey- →