signore
See also: Signore
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian signore. Doublet of seigneur, seignior, senhor, senior, señor, senyor, sir, and sire.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /siːnˈjɔreɪ/
Noun
signore (plural signores)
- A courtesy title for Italian men.
- 1953, Jack Brooks, That's Amore:
Related terms
Anagrams
Italian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /siɲˈɲo.re/
Audio: (file) - Rhymes: -ore
- Hyphenation: si‧gnó‧re
Etymology 1
From earlier segnore, from Latin seniōrem, comparative form of senex (“old”), from Proto-Indo-European *sénos. Doublet of sire.
Alternative forms
Noun
signore m (masculine plural signori, feminine signora, feminine plural signore, diminutive signorìno, augmentative signoròtto or signoróne (“rich man”))
- (archaic) lord (ruler)
- c. 1260s, Brunetto Latini, Il tesoretto [The Treasure], collected in Raccolta di rime antiche toscane: Volume primo, Palermo: Giuseppe Assenzio, published 1817, page 9, lines 1–3:
- (archaic) master
- Synonym: padrone
- (obsolete) used to address a lover: beloved
- Synonym: amato
- (often capitalized) Lord, God
- c. 1226, Francis of Assisi, Cantico delle creature [Canticle of the Creatures][1], page 1:
- Altissimu onnipotente bonsignore. tue so le laude la gloria elhonore et onne benedictione.
- Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessing.
- used to address a man: sir (gentlemen is used for the plural)
- Sì, signore. ― Yes, sir.
- No, signori. ― No, gentlemen.
- (by extension):
- lord, magnate (esp. as signore di ~)
Descendants
Adjective
signore (feminine signora, masculine plural signori, feminine plural signore)
- (archaic) rich, well-off, wealthy
- Synonyms: benestante, ricco
- (informal) great, exceptional, excellent
- Synonyms: eccellente, eccezionale, ottimo, pregevole
Further reading
- signore in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Alternative forms
- (abbreviations) sig.re, sign.re
Noun
signore f
- plural of signora