sir
/sɜɹ/ noun A1- A man of a higher rank or position.
- A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position, particularly
- to a knight or other low member of the peerage. · Just be careful. He gets whingy now if you don't address him as Sir John.
- to a superior military officer. · Sir, yes sir.
- to a teacher. · Here's my report, sir.
- A respectful term of address to an adult male (often older), especially if his name or proper title is unknown. · Excuse me, sir, do you know the way to the art museum?
Plural sirs
From the library
“Fury said to a mouse, That he met in the house, ‘Let us both go to law: _I_ will prosecute _you_.—Come, I’ll take no denial; We must have a trial: For really this morning I’ve nothing to do.’ Said the mouse to the cur, ‘Such a trial, dear sir, With no jury or judge, would be wasting our breath.’ ‘I’ll be judge, I’ll be jury,’ Said cunning old Fury: ‘I’ll try the whole cause, and condemn you to death.’”
Alice replied, rather shyly, “I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I _was_ when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.”
“I can’t explain _myself_, I’m afraid, sir,” said Alice, “because I’m not myself, you see.”
“I’m afraid I am, sir,” said Alice; “I can’t remember things as I used—and I don’t keep the same size for ten minutes together!”
Other matches
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