signore

See also: Signore

English

Alternative forms

• signor

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian signore. Doublet of seigneur, seignior, senhor, senior, señor, senyor, sir, and sire.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /siːnˈjɔreɪ/

Noun

signore (plural signores)

1. A courtesy title for Italian men.
   • 1953, Jack Brooks, That's Amore:

     When you walk in a dream
     but you know you're not dreaming,
     Signore,
     scuzza me
     but you see,
     back in old Napoli,
     that's amore!

Related terms

• monsignor

Anagrams

• Reginos, songier, regions, ignores, eringos, ingoers, nigroes

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

• segnore (archaic)
• signor

Noun

signore m (masculine plural signori, feminine signora, feminine plural signore, diminutive signorìno, augmentative signoròtto or signoróne (“rich man”))

1. (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:

     Al valente Signore,
     Di cui non so migliore
     Sù la terra trovare

     To the valiant lord, of which I can find no better in the land

2. (archaic) master

   Synonym: padrone

3. (obsolete) used to address a lover: beloved

   Synonym: amato

4. (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.

5. used to address a man: sir (gentlemen is used for the plural)

   Sì, signore. ― Yes, sir.

   No, signori. ― No, gentlemen.

6. (by extension):
   1. mister (title of adult male)
   2. man (adult male)

      È venuto a cercarti un signore. ― A man came looking for you.

   3. gentleman (well-mannered man)
   4. affluent (one who is wealthy)
7. lord, magnate (esp. as signore di ~)

Descendants

• → English: signore, signor

Adjective

signore (feminine signora, masculine plural signori, feminine plural signore)

1. (archaic) rich, well-off, wealthy

   Synonyms: benestante, ricco

2. (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.

Noun

signore f

1. plural of signora

See also

• Signor
• signora
• monsù

Anagrams

• insorge, risegno, risegnò, segnori