a title of respect for a man, or a man or boy whose name you don't know.
From Middle English and Old French 'maistre,' derived from Latin 'magister' meaning 'master' or 'teacher.' The title originally indicated authority or expertise before becoming a general form of address.
The word 'Mister' comes from 'Magister' (master), which is why 'magister' degrees exist in universities—so when you call someone 'Mr.,' you're technically calling them a master or teacher, even if you're just being polite.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.