He was crowned lord and sire. --Gower.
In the election of a sir so rare. --Shak.
2. A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a
baronet.
Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in
the active part. --Bacon.
3. An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical
title of a bachelor of arts; -- formerly colloquially, and
sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy. --Nares.
Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire
a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at
tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's
word. --Latimer.
4. A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without
being prefixed to his name; -- used especially in speaking
to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way
of emphatic formality. ``What's that to you, sir?''
--Sheridan.
Note: Anciently, this title, was often used when a person was
addressed as a man holding a certain office, or
following a certain business. ``Sir man of law.'' ``Sir
parish priest.'' --Chaucer.
{Sir reverance}. See under {Reverence}, n.