mister
mister Lexical Profile
mister Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A conventional title of respect or courtesy prefixed to a man's surname, full name, or official designation, usually written in its abbreviated form "Mr."
"The receptionist politely asked Mister Henderson to take a seat in the waiting room."
An informal form of direct address used when speaking to an adult man whose name is unknown.
"Excuse me, mister, did you accidentally drop your wallet on the sidewalk?"
A nozzle, bottle, or mechanical device designed to spray a fine mist of liquid, commonly used for watering delicate houseplants, cooling outdoor areas, or dispensing cooking oil.
"She used a handheld brass mister to lightly dampen the leaves of her tropical ferns."
• verb
To address or refer to someone using the title "mister".
"He preferred to be called by his first name and asked his colleagues not to mister him in meetings."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a courtesy title before a surname or official position, it is almost universally written in its abbreviated, capitalized form "Mr." (or "Mr" in British English). Writing "mister" out in full is generally reserved for informal direct address without a name or for humorous and rhetorical emphasis.
• Rhymes for mister
Word Origin & Etymology
Evolved in the 16th century as an unstressed phonological variant of "master", which itself derives from Old French "maistre" and Latin "magister" (meaning chief, head, or teacher). The homograph meaning a spray device is an agent noun formed directly from the English verb "mist" plus the suffix "-er".