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monseigneur

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Mon⋅sei⋅gneur

[mawn-se-nyœr]
–noun, plural Mes⋅sei⋅gneurs [mey-se-nyœr] .
1. a French title of honor given to princes, bishops, and other persons of eminence.
2. a person bearing this title.
Also, mon⋅sei⋅gneur.


Origin:
1590–1600; < F: my lord; see seigneur
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Mon·sei·gneur   (môɴ-sě-nyɶr')   
n.   pl. Mes·sei·gneurs (mā-sě-nyɶr') Abbr. Msgr. or Mgr.
Used as an honorific in French-speaking areas, especially as accorded to princes and prelates.

[French, from Old French seignor : mon, my; see Monsieur + seigneur, lord, sir; see seignior.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

monseigneur 
1610, from Fr., title of honor equivalent to "my lord," from mon "my" + seigneur "lord," from L. seniorem, acc. of senior "older." Plural messeigneurs.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

monseigneur

former French title, appearing without an adjoining proper name, used to refer to or address the dauphin, or grand dauphin, heir apparent to the crown. Monseigneur was first applied to Louis XIV's son Louis de France (d. 1711) and grandson Louis, duc de Bourgogne (d. 1712); later to Louis XV's son Louis de France (d. 1765); and finally to Louis XVI's son Louis (d. 1789). More generally, monseigneur was used as a title preceding the titles of dukes and other peers, marshals of France, ministers of state, councillors of state, and presidents of sovereign courts

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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