mister

Etymology 1

Unaccented variant of master, attested since the 15th century.

noun

1. A title conferred on an adult male, usually when the name is unknown. Also used as a term of address, often by a parent to a young child.
   You may sit here, mister.
   Fine day to see sights, gentlemen. Well, misters, here's the railing round the ground, and there's the paling round the tomb, eight feet deep, six feet long, and three feet wide. 1855, George Musalas Colvocoresses, Four Years in the Government Exploring Expedition, J. M. Fairchild & co., page 358
   There's only three misters aboard this ship, or, rather, there's only two. 1908, Jack Brand, By Wild Waves Tossed: An Ocean Love Story, The McClure Company, page 90
   Liara: We have to hurry. The whole place is caving in! Shepard: Joker! Get the Normandy airbone and lock in on my signal. On the double, mister! 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Therum
   Asterix: What? And only now you tell us? Obelix: I was talking to the future queen, mister Asterix! Asterix: And I advise you to change your tone, mister Obelix! Obelix: The future queen and I don't need your advice, mister Asterix! Mister Asterix gives too much advice anyway! 2013, Asterix and the Picts, page 37

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To address by the title of "mister". [from 18th c.]
   1837-39, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist “Hush! hush! Mr. Sikes,” said the Jew, trembling; “don’t speak so loud!” “None of your mistering,” replied the ruffian; “you always mean mischief when you come that. You know my name: out with it! I shan’t disgrace it when the time comes.”

Etymology 2

From Middle English mister, myster, from Anglo-Norman mester, meister (et al.), from Latin misterium, a medieval conflation of Latin ministerium (“ministry”) with Latin mysterium (“mystery”).

noun

1. (obsolete) Someone's business or function; an occupation, employment, trade.
2. (now rare, dialectal) A kind, type of.
   What mister-chance hath brought thee to the field Without thy sheepe? 1772, William Browne, The Works of William Browne: Containing Britannia's Pastorals, page 83
   For als he been a mister wight Betray'd by wandering in the night To tread the circled haunt; 1779, Samuel Johnson, “A Fairy Tale”, in The Works of the English Poets, page 27
3. (obsolete) Need (of something).
   He is richt gude, Ane man of wealth and nobill blude, Bot hes mair mister of ane Hude. 1603, Ane verie excellent and delectabill treatise intitulit Philotus
   England, that stands muckle in mister of a Reformation. 1692, Jacob Curate, The Scotch Presbyterian eloquence
   Now is over lait to preis my freind indeid , Quhan that I have sik mister, and sik neid: Better had bene be tyme I had overtane, To preis my freind, quhen mister had I nane. 1792, John Pinkerton, Scotish Poems
4. (obsolete) Necessity; the necessary time.
   That the portis be mendytt and lokit and reformit as mister is. 1543, John Stuart, Extracts from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen
   Which works the church had in its treasury to sell at mister. 1722, John Lauder Fountainhall, Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall, with his observations on public affairs and other memoranda 1665-1676
   When his Máster shall say, Ha Sir, I know you well enough; ye did speak indeed but never in a mister; ye did sneak, as they use to say, when none speired at you, ye were stout then; 1754, John Livingston, A Brief Historical Relation of the Life of Mr J. Livingston, page 68
   If 2 coparceners are seised of land, and one releases to the other in fee with warranty; this passes by way of mister le estate. 1793, Charles Viner, A General Abridgment of Law and Equity

verb

1. (obsolete, impersonal) To be necessary; to matter.
   As for my name, it mistreth not to tell; Call me the Squyre of Dames that me beseemeth well. 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.vii
   I mister not to write mair of Bissiness to zour Lordschip; bot, as I hear, how soon the Compris of thair Factoris is hard, that thai will gif thame new Commissionis again, or utheris in thair Placis. 1734, Robert Keith, The History of the Affairs of Chuch and State in Scotland, page 489

Etymology 3

table mist + -er.

noun

1. A device that makes or sprays mist.
   Odessa D. uses a mister Sunday to fight the 106-degree heat at a NASCAR race in Fontana, California.