n. A feudal lord; nobleman who held his lands by feudal grant; any lord (holder) of a manor; a gentleman.
n. A title of respect, formerly corresponding (especially in France) approximately to Sir.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. A lord; the lord of a manor.
n. A title of honor or of address in the South of Europe, corresponding to Sir or Mr. in English.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. A lord; a gentleman; used as a title of honor or customary address, ‘sir.’ See sir, signor, señor.
n. In feudal law, the lord of a fee or manor.
n. A great personage or dignitary.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a man of rank in the ancient regime
Word Usage
"Started on a course not his own, he gives, buys, builds, and exchanges; he assists those belonging to his own society, doing everything in a style becoming to a grand seignior, that is to say, throwing money away by handfuls."