Sire (?), n. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
1. A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [Obs.]
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Pain and distress, sickness and ire,
And melancholy that angry sire,
Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.
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2. A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.
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3. A father; the head of a family; the husband.
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Jankin thet was our sire [i.e., husband]. Chaucer.
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And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.
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4. A creator; a maker; an author; an originator.
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[He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.
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5. The male parent of a beast; -- applied especially to horses; as, “the horse had a good sire”.
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☞ Sire is often used in composition; as in grandsire, grandfather; great-grandsire, great-grandfather.
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