Sire (?), n. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]

1.

A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir.

[Obs.]

Pain and distress, sickness and ire, And melancholy that angry sire, Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.

2.

A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.

3.

A father; the head of a family; the husband.

Jankin thet was our sire [i.e., husband]. Chaucer.

And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.

4.

A creator; a maker; an author; an originator.

[He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.

5.

The male parent of a beast; -- applied especially to horses; as, the horse had a good sire.

Sire is often used in composition; as in grandsire, grandfather; great-grandsire, great-grandfather.

 

© Webster 1913.


Sire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Siring.]

To beget; to procreate; -- used of beasts, and especially of stallions.

 

© Webster 1913.