messire

my lord, sire (archaic title)

noun meh-SEER Rare

Origin: From Old French 'mes' (my) + 'sire' (lord).

Usage Note

Messire is an archaic honorific for a lord or knight, roughly equivalent to 'my lord' or 'good sir'. It is found in medieval literature, historical novels, and period films. It is never used in everyday modern speech. The modern equivalents are monsieur (for general address) and sire (exclusively for kings).

Examples

"Messire, votre présence est requise au château."

Natural Translation

My lord, your presence is required at the castle.

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