messieurs, n. pl.
(ˈmɛsjʊəz, ‖ mesj{obar})
[a. Fr., pl. of monsieur.]
1. a. The plural of monsieur, in its various uses. (When used as a prefixed title, now commonly represented, as in Fr., by the abbreviation MM.)
| 1624 Massinger Parl. Love i. v, My lord of Orleans..assisted By the messieurs Philamour and Lafort. 1696 Vanbrugh Relapse i. iii, Hey, messieurs, entrez. 1731 Fielding Tom Thumb i. iii, Let Rome her Cæsar's and her Scipio's show, Her Messieurs France, let Holland boast Mynheers. 1770 J. Z. Holwell Orig. Princ. Anc. Bramins viii. §102 (1779) 119 However Mess. Yvon and Bouillet refute the Cartesian hypothesis, by [etc.]. 1827 Scott Napoleon VIII. 83 The two Messrs. de Polignac were deeply engaged. 1841 Emerson Method Nat. Wks. (1881) II. 225 Why should not then these messieurs of Versailles strut and plot for tabourets and ribbons? |
b. nonce-use. Imitating the Fr. use of the title before a personal designation in the plural.
| 1809 Byron Bards & Rev. ix. note, Messieurs the Spirits of Flood and Fell. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I. i. 8, I warrant Messieurs the landlords their interests would be better consulted by keeping their singers within bounds. |
c. nonce-use. the Messieurs = the French.
| 1889 Doyle Micah Clarke 162 Two campaigns with the Messieurs in the Palatinate. |
2. a. Used to supply the want of an English plural of Mr. (Commonly in the abbreviated form Messrs.)
| 1779 F. Burney Diary (1842) I. 211 Lord Mordaunt, Messieurs Murphy, Fisher, and Fitzgerald. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §131, I returned with Messrs. Jessop and Richardson to Plymouth. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis I. xviii. 164 Lady Agnes..voted the two Messieurs Pendennis most agreeable men. 1888 Mapleson Mem. (ed. 2) I. 215 Messrs. Steinway now..undertook to supply each leading member of the Company with pianos. |
b. nonce-use. As a title of address (without reference to foreigners); = ‘Gentlemen’; ‘Sirs’.
| 1789 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Tithe Rencounter Wks. 1792 III. 27 Messieurs! I've search'd our ancient Modus over. |