mister1
[mis-ter]
- (initial capital letter) a conventional title of respect for a man, prefixed to the name and to certain official designations (usually written as the abbreviation Mr.).
- Informal. sir (used in direct address and not followed by the name of the man addressed): Mister, is this your umbrella?
- (initial capital letter) a title prefixed to a mock surname that is used to represent possession of a particular attribute, identity, etc.: Mister Know-it-all.
- the informal or social title used in addressing a military warrant officer or any naval officer below the rank of commander.
- (especially in military schools and colleges)
- a term of respect used by cadets in addressing upperclassmen: used with surname.
- a term of disparagement used by upperclassmen in addressing cadets: Mister, tuck in that shirttail!
- Older Use. husband: You and the mister staying long?
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- to address or speak of as “mister” or “Mr.”
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Origin of mister1
First recorded in 1545–55; variant of master
mister2
[mis-ter]
- a spray, nozzle, or similar device for misting plants.
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Origin of mister2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for mister
Contemporary Examples
Mister Ham in need of cash: That is something a lot of people will not believe.
And this week it was Mister Ham, General Delivery, United States.
“Maybe you need a good overcoat for Christmas,” Mister Ham was saying.
Nobody bothered to tell Mister Ham about it until the following August.
And it was sad, very sad, to be with Mister Ham Wednesday afternoon.
Historical Examples
"Let's git out, mister," cried Old Bill, clutching Mortimer's arm.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
There is no need for Miss or Mister in the savage jungle, Virginia.
The Monster MenEdgar Rice Burroughs
So I sed to him, "Mister, did you lose anythin' 'round here any place?"
Uncles Josh's Punkin Centre StoriesCal Stewart
I don't believe you, Mister Duncan—or whatever your name is.
The Fortune HunterLouis Joseph Vance
Mister Tom he locked him up last night in one of the south bedrooms.
The Inn at the Red OakLatta Griswold
mister
- an informal form of address for a man
- navy
- the official form of address for subordinate or senior warrant officers
- the official form of address for all officers in a merchant ship, other than the captain
- US navythe official form of address used by the commanding officer to his officers, esp to the more junior
- British the form of address for a surgeon
- the form of address for officials holding certain positionsmister chairman
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- (tr) informal to call (someone) mister
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Word Origin
C16: variant of master
Mister
- the full form of Mr
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for mister
as a title of courtesy before a man's Christian name, mid-15c., unaccented variant of master. As a form of address, without a name and with a tinge of rudeness, from 1760.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper