The male parent of an animal, especially a horse or other domesticated animal. As a form of address, used for a king or sovereign.
From Old French sire, from Latin senior (elder, older). Originally meant 'lord' or 'master', then evolved to specifically mean 'father' in animal breeding contexts. The royal address meaning preserved the original sense of respectful authority.
In horse breeding, the sire's lineage is meticulously tracked because certain bloodlines produce superior racing or working horses. The term reflects how patriarchal societies emphasized male lineage - we say a horse is 'by' a certain sire but 'out of' a mare, showing linguistic gender bias.
Sire is explicitly masculine (father/lord); dame or madam are feminine counterparts. The male form became the default, obscuring female authority holders and making 'sire' synonym for leadership without gendered alternatives in formal address.
In formal modern address, use names or titles (Your Majesty, Your Highness) rather than gendered 'sire/dame.' If historical context requires it, acknowledge both forms equally.
["your majesty","your highness","sovereign","your honor"]
Female rulers and leaders have always held authority equal to 'sires,' yet language default to masculine form historically erased their power — modern usage should reflect parity.
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