sire

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary · Formal

n. a very formal way to speak to a king or a person in power.

n. a formal title of address used when speaking to a sovereign or monarch.

“"I have brought the news you requested, Sire," the messenger said to the king.”

“The knight knelt before the throne, addressing the king as Sire before delivering the urgent dispatch from the northern border.”

C1 · Advanced Technical

v. to be the father of an animal.

v. to procreate or beget offspring; used almost exclusively of male animals in breeding contexts.

“This bull has sired over fifty calves on the farm this year.”

“The legendary stallion continued to sire high-performance offspring well into his late teens, maintaining his reputation in the racing community.”

C2 · Proficiency Slang

v. in stories, to turn a human into a vampire.

v. to transform a human into a vampire, typically through the act of biting or sharing blood.

“In the movie, the ancient vampire chose to sire a new companion.”

“The narrative explores the complex, often toxic bond between the vampire and the fledgling he chose to sire during the Victorian era.”