monsieur

Etymology
From. .

Noun

 * 1)  A man, especially a French gentleman.

Etymology
From +, from the oblique case of  (cf. also ), ultimately from. The first syllable has been reduced through frequent use. Loss of word-final was common in Early Modern French, but failed to established itself except in (most) words in. and are two relics of this pronunciation habit.

Noun

 * 1) mister, sir a title or form of address for a man, used with or without the name in direct or third-person address
 * 2) gentleman

Usage notes

 * A custom held that it was impolite to use Monsieur with a family name (e.g. Monsieur Dupont) in direct address from a hierarchical inferior to a superior, unless it was needed to disambiguate. Instead, one should simply address the person as Monsieur. This custom may now be obsolete.


 * Unlike in English, Monsieur is frequently used without a name or article as a polite reference to a man in the third person, notably in official registers:
 * Additionally, Monsieur (and Madame) are sometimes used in conjunction with titles/roles in formal registers.
 * Additionally, Monsieur (and Madame) are sometimes used in conjunction with titles/roles in formal registers.


 * Although un/le monsieur is used as a common noun to mean "a/the gentleman", using the word une/la madame to mean "a/the lady" is considered childish language. Instead, une/la dame is used.

Descendants
(Some of these may be derived from Middle French.)