sire Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a title of address formerly used for a man of rank and authority
noun the founder of a family
father; forefather.
- keep the faith of our forefathers
noun male parent of an animal especially a domestic animal such as a horse
verb make children
engender; get; father; mother; bring forth; beget; generate.
- Abraham begot Isaac
- Men often father children but don't recognize them

F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.

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.
A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.
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.
A creator; a maker; an author; an originator.
[He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.
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.

imperfect & past participle Sired ; present participle & verbal noun Siring