lord

lord [lôrd]

n.

[ME < OE hlaford < earlier hlafweard < hlaf (see LOAF¹) + weard (see WARD): basic sense—“loaf keeper” (i.e., one who feeds dependents): some senses infl. by use as transl. of L dominus]

1. a person having great power and authority; ruler; master

2. the owner and head of a feudal estate

3. one's husband: now humorous

4. [L-]

a) God: with the except in direct address

b) Jesus Christ: often with Our

5. in Great Britain

6.

a) a nobleman holding the rank of baron, viscount, earl, or marquess; member of the House of Lords

b) a man who by courtesy or because of his office is given the title of Lord, as a bishop, a younger son of a duke or marquess, or a Lord Mayor

7. [L-] in Great Britain, the title of a lord, variously used: as Earl of Leicester, John Doe would be called Lord Leicester; as a baron, John, Lord Doe; as a younger son of a marquess or duke, Lord John Doe

8. [L-] this title as a form of address for a judge, bishop, or nobleman: preceded by My

interj.

[often L-] used to express surprise or irritation

vi.

to act like a lord; rule: chiefly in the phrase lord it (over), to act in an overbearing, dictatorial manner (toward)

vt.

Now Rare to make a lord of

to make a lord of

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the Lords

the House of Lords in the British Parliament