Messire (en. Sir)

/mɛ.siʁ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Honorific title used in the Middle Ages to designate a noble.

Messire, I thank you for your help.

Messire, je vous remercie pour votre aide.

Polite term used towards a respected man.

The villagers addressed him as messire.

Les villageois s'adressaient à lui comme à messire.

Used in medieval literature to refer to a knight.

Messire spoke to him with admiration.

Messire lui parla avec admiration.

Derived from the Latin 'miles', meaning soldier, and used to designate a lord.

in the manner of messire

in a noble or distinguished manner.

à la façon de messire

to deal with messire

to act with respect towards a man of high status.

traiter avec messire

lord

A man who owns land and has vassals.

seigneur

knight

A member of the clergy or an armed warrior.

chevalier

nobility

The social class of nobles.

noblesse

Respectable man

This guy is a true messire in his field.

Ce gars est un vrai messire dans son domaine.

Man with power

He behaves like a messire with all his employees.

Il se comporte comme un messire avec tous ses employés.