Sire (?), n. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.] 1. A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir.
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. Chaucer.
And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.
4. A creator; a maker; an author; an originator.
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.