sire

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sire /sʌɪə/

▶noun

• 1 the male parent of an animal, especially a stallion or bull kept for breeding.

• 2 a father or other male forebear.

• 3 archaic a respectful form of address to someone of high social status, especially a king.

▶verb be the sire of.

– origin ME: from OFr., from an alt. of L. senior (see senior).