mister
UK: ˈmɪstə | US: ˈmɪstər
n. a title used before a man’s name or position, equivalent to "Mr."
n. (informal) a form of address for a man whose name is unknown
mister = mist<master> + er<noun suffix>
- mist<master>: Derived from Middle English maister (later master), from Old English mægester and Latin magister (meaning "chief, teacher"). Over time, master was shortened colloquially to mister.
- er<noun suffix>: A common English suffix denoting agency or association (e.g., "teacher," "worker").
Etymology Origin:
The word mister evolved from master, reflecting social shifts in English. Originally a term for someone in authority (e.g., schoolmaster), master was abbreviated to mister in the 16th century as a polite title for men. The suffix -er here doesn’t add meaning but preserves the word’s structure. The change mirrors the simplification of formal titles in everyday speech.
"Excuse me, mister, do you know the way to the station?"
"Mister Smith will be joining us for dinner tonight."
"The mister next door always waves hello."
"Hey mister, you dropped your wallet!"
"In formal letters, 'Mister' is abbreviated as 'Mr.'"