"sire" meaning in Middle English

See sire in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈsiːr(ə)/, /ˈsir(ə)/, /ˈsɛr(ə)/
Etymology: From Old French sire, nominative singular of seignor, from Latin senior. Doublet of senyour. Etymology templates: {{bor|enm|fro|sire}} Old French sire, {{der|enm|la|senior}} Latin senior, {{doublet|enm|senyour}} Doublet of senyour Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} sire, {{enm-noun|sires}} sire (plural sires) Forms: sires [plural], sir [alternative], sirre [alternative], syre [alternative], syr [alternative], seere [alternative], ser [alternative], sure [alternative], sore [alternative], [alternative]
  1. Used preceding the name or title of a knight, noble, or cleric.
    Sense id: en-sire-enm-noun-teSwxe2q Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Male family members, Nobility Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 28 16 15 13 Disambiguation of Male family members: 14 17 13 28 29 Disambiguation of Nobility: 31 25 32 6 6
  2. A respectful term of address for a noble or gentleman.
    Sense id: en-sire-enm-noun-dlPO0-NC Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Middle English terms of address, Male family members, Male people, Nobility Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 28 16 15 13 Disambiguation of Middle English terms of address: 7 84 3 3 3 Disambiguation of Male family members: 14 17 13 28 29 Disambiguation of Male people: 7 73 6 6 6 Disambiguation of Nobility: 31 25 32 6 6
  3. A noble or lord; one of high station.
    Sense id: en-sire-enm-noun-IKZUXrEK Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Male family members, Nobility Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 28 16 15 13 Disambiguation of Male family members: 14 17 13 28 29 Disambiguation of Nobility: 31 25 32 6 6
  4. A husband as the head of a household.
    Sense id: en-sire-enm-noun-XVzp1snj Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Male family members Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 28 16 15 13 Disambiguation of Male family members: 14 17 13 28 29
  5. A father as one's progenitor.
    Sense id: en-sire-enm-noun-lnT5nVVq Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Male family members Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 28 16 15 13 Disambiguation of Male family members: 14 17 13 28 29

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "sir"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "sire"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "sir"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "sire"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "sire"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French sire",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "senior"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin senior",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "senyour"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of senyour",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French sire, nominative singular of seignor, from Latin senior. Doublet of senyour.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "sires",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sir",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sirre",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "syre",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "syr",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "seere",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ser",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sure",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sore",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ẜ",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "sire",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sires"
      },
      "expansion": "sire (plural sires)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "28 28 16 15 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 17 13 28 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 25 32 6 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used preceding the name or title of a knight, noble, or cleric."
      ],
      "id": "en-sire-enm-noun-teSwxe2q",
      "links": [
        [
          "knight",
          "knight#English"
        ],
        [
          "noble",
          "noble#English"
        ],
        [
          "cleric",
          "cleric#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "28 28 16 15 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 84 3 3 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English terms of address",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 17 13 28 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 73 6 6 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male people",
          "orig": "enm:Male people",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 25 32 6 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A respectful term of address for a noble or gentleman."
      ],
      "id": "en-sire-enm-noun-dlPO0-NC",
      "links": [
        [
          "term",
          "term#English"
        ],
        [
          "address",
          "address#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "28 28 16 15 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 17 13 28 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 25 32 6 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Nobility",
          "orig": "enm:Nobility",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A noble or lord; one of high station."
      ],
      "id": "en-sire-enm-noun-IKZUXrEK",
      "links": [
        [
          "noble",
          "noble"
        ],
        [
          "lord",
          "lord"
        ],
        [
          "high",
          "high"
        ],
        [
          "station",
          "station"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "28 28 16 15 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 17 13 28 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A husband as the head of a household."
      ],
      "id": "en-sire-enm-noun-XVzp1snj",
      "links": [
        [
          "husband",
          "husband"
        ],
        [
          "head",
          "head"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "28 28 16 15 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 17 13 28 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A father as one's progenitor."
      ],
      "id": "en-sire-enm-noun-lnT5nVVq",
      "links": [
        [
          "father",
          "father"
        ],
        [
          "progenitor",
          "progenitor"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsiːr(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsir(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɛr(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "sire"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English doublets",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English polite terms",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Latin",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Middle English terms of address",
    "Pages with 10 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Male family members",
    "enm:Male people",
    "enm:Nobility"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "sir"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "sire"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "sir"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "sire"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "sire"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French sire",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "senior"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin senior",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "senyour"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of senyour",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French sire, nominative singular of seignor, from Latin senior. Doublet of senyour.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "sires",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sir",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sirre",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "syre",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "syr",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "seere",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ser",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sure",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "sore",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ẜ",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "sire",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sires"
      },
      "expansion": "sire (plural sires)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used preceding the name or title of a knight, noble, or cleric."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "knight",
          "knight#English"
        ],
        [
          "noble",
          "noble#English"
        ],
        [
          "cleric",
          "cleric#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A respectful term of address for a noble or gentleman."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "term",
          "term#English"
        ],
        [
          "address",
          "address#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A noble or lord; one of high station."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "noble",
          "noble"
        ],
        [
          "lord",
          "lord"
        ],
        [
          "high",
          "high"
        ],
        [
          "station",
          "station"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A husband as the head of a household."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "husband",
          "husband"
        ],
        [
          "head",
          "head"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A father as one's progenitor."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "father",
          "father"
        ],
        [
          "progenitor",
          "progenitor"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsiːr(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsir(ə)/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɛr(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "sire"
}

Download raw JSONL data for sire meaning in Middle English (2.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-03-25 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-03-03 using wiktextract (05c257f and 9d9a410). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.