Word: lord Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷel-der.? Proto-Germanic *hlaibaz Proto-West Germanic *hlaib Old English hlāf Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Proto-West Germanic *ward Old English weard Old English hlāfweard Old English hlāford Middle English lord English lord From Middle English lord and lorde (attested from the 15th century), from earlier (14th century) lourde and other variants which dropped the intervocalic consonant of earlier lowerd, louerd, loverd, laford, and lhoaverd; from Old English hlāford < hlāfweard, a compound of hlāf (“bread”) + weard (“guardian”); see loaf and ward. The term was already being applied broadly prior to the literary development of Old English and was influenced by its common use to translate Latin dominus. Compare Scots laird (“lord”), preserving a separate vowel development (from northern/Scottish Middle English lard, laverd), the Old English compound hlāf-ǣta (“servant”, literally “bread-eater”), and modern English lady, from Old English hlǣfdīġe (“bread-kneader”). The Middle English word laford was borrowed by Icelandic, where it survives as lávarður. Doublet of hlaford and laird. Pronunciation: /lɔːd/, /loːd/, /loɹd/, /lɔɾd/ 1. The master of the servants of a household; (historical) the master of a feudal manor Labels: obsolete Example: Bleſſed is that ſeruant, whome his Lord when he commeth, ſhal finde ſo doing. Example: Por. ...But now, I was the Lord of this faire manſion, maiſter of my ſeruants, Queene oer my ſelfe[…] 2. The master of the servants of a household; (historical) the master of a feudal manor Labels: archaic, obsolete Example: […]thou worthie Lord, Of that vnworthie wife that greeteth thee Example: Pet. Katherine, I charge thee, tell theſe head-ſtrong women, What dutie they doe owe their Lords and huſbands! 3. The master of the servants of a household; (historical) the master of a feudal manor Labels: archaic, obsolete Example: A mightie Lord of Swine! Example: Turnus[…] Wrench'd from his feeble hold the shining Sword; And plung'd it in the Bosom of its Lord. 4. One possessing similar mastery over others; (historical) any feudal superior generally; any nobleman or aristocrat; any chief, prince, or sovereign ruler; in Scotland, a male member of the lowest rank of nobility (the equivalent rank in England is baron) Example: It is a pytuouse case... whan subjectes rebell agaynst their naturall lorde. Example: Man over men He made not Lord. 5. One possessing similar mastery over others; (historical) any feudal superior generally; any nobleman or aristocrat; any chief, prince, or sovereign ruler; in Scotland, a male member of the lowest rank of nobility (the equivalent rank in England is baron) Labels: historical 6. One possessing similar mastery over others; (historical) any feudal superior generally; any nobleman or aristocrat; any chief, prince, or sovereign ruler; in Scotland, a male member of the lowest rank of nobility (the equivalent rank in England is baron) Example: Men myghten lordis knowe Example: If such persone bee of the estate of a Lord, as Duc, Marques, Erle, Viscount or Baron. 7. One possessing similar mastery over others; (historical) any feudal superior generally; any nobleman or aristocrat; any chief, prince, or sovereign ruler; in Scotland, a male member of the lowest rank of nobility (the equivalent rank in England is baron) Labels: obsolete, uncommon Example: 1526, W. Bonde, Pylgrimage of Perfection, i. sig. Bviiiv Farre excellyng the state of lordes, erles, dukes or kynges. Example: The Marquess played off the two Lords and the Baronet against his former friend. 8. One possessing similar mastery in figurative senses (esp. as lord of ~) Example: O wityng bath god and ill Ȝee suld be lauerds at ȝour will. Example: The sonne is the lorde of planetes. 9. One possessing similar mastery in figurative senses (esp. as lord of ~) Example: The Tobacco Lords were a group of Scottish merchants and slave traders who in the 18th century made enormous fortunes by trading in tobacco. Example: Oh, Oh! The cotton Lords are tearing! 10. The heavenly body considered to possess a dominant influence over an event, time, etc. Example: The assendent, & eke the lord of the assendent, may be shapen for to be fortunat or infortunat, as thus, a fortunat assendent clepen they whan þat no wykkid planete, as Saturne or Mars, or elles the tail of the dragoun, is in þe hows of the assendent. 11. A hunchback. Labels: UK, obsolete, slang Example: Lord, a very crooked, deformed... Person. 12. Sixpence. Labels: Australia, UK, obsolete Example: Twenty years ago you might hear a sixpence described as a ‘Lord’ meaning ‘Lord of the Manor’; that is, a tanner.