seignior

English

Alternative forms

• seigneur, sieur
• seigniour (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English senyour, from Old French seignor, seignior, from Latin senior, seniōrem. Doublet of seigneur, senhor, senior, señor, senyor, signore, sir, and sire.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈseɪnjə/ enPR: sēnʹ-yûr
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsiːnjɚ/

Noun

seignior (plural seigniors)

1. (historical) A feudal lord; a nobleman who held his lands by feudal grant; any lord (holder) of a manor.
   • 2011, Colin Woodard, chapter 2, in American nations, New York: Penguin, →ISBN:

     Louis XIV’s minions tried to bend New France’s increasingly aboriginal society to his will. […] In the St. Lawrence Valley almost all arable land not reserved for the Church was divided among well-born gentlemen to enable them to become landed aristocrats, or seigniors.

2. A title of respect, formerly corresponding (especially in France) approximately to Sir.

Related terms

• grand seignior

Anagrams

• Nigerois, origines