Sir

Sir (Fr. sieur and sire, contracted from seigneur; from Lat. senior, 'elder'), a term originally corresponding to dominus in Latin. It was at one time the practice to use the same title in addressing the clergy, a familiar instance being Sir Hugh Evans in the Merry Wives of Windsor. To so great an extent did this usage obtain that a 'Sir John' came to be a common sobriquet for a priest. 'Sir' was here a translation of dominus, the term used for a bachelor of arts, originally in contradistinction from the magister, or master of arts, but eventually extended to the clergy without distinction. Used along with the Christian name and surname, 'sir' is now applied exclusively to knights and baronets. Standing alone it is a common complimentary mode of address used without regard to rank. Sire is an older form of sir, formerly used in addressing royalty.