E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Sir.
Latin, senex; Spanish, señor; Italian, signor; French, sieur; Norman, sire; English, sir. According to some, Greek is connected with Sir; on the analogy of ε- (ε) = Latin sum;εε = Latin semper; oo = Latin sapa.
1
Sir (a clerical address). Clergymen had at one time Sir prefixed to their name. This is not the Sir of knighthood, but merely a translation of the university word domnus given to graduates, as “Dominus Hugh Evans,” etc.
is connected with Sir; on the analogy of ε
-
(ε
ε
ε
= Latin semper; o
nus given to graduates, as “Dominus Hugh Evans,” etc.
