Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sir” come from?

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

sir (English): A man of a higher rank or position; A respectful...

Definitions

  1. A man of a higher rank or position; A respectful...

Ancestry of “sir”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsirAlternative form of sire
2Middle EnglishsireUsed preceding the name or title of a knight,...
3Old Frenchsirenominative singular of sieur; master, sir, lord;...
4Vulgar Latinseior—
5Latinseniorolder, elder; rather old; a lord, sir; an abbot
6Latinsenexold, aged, elderly; old person, old man, old...
7Proto-Indo-Europeansénosold

Words derived from “sir”

  • Sir
  • ser
  • surly
  • sirrah
  • surlily
  • surliness
  • yessir
  • surry
  • sirly
  • sirji
  • grimsir
  • 蛇
  • 阿Sir
  • jessör
  • เซอร์
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sénos →