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¹lord

noun \ˈlȯrd\

Definition of LORD

: one having power and authority over others:

a : a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due

b : one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure

c : an owner of land or other real property

d obsolete : the male head of a household

e : husband

f : one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area <a drug lord>

capitalized

a : god 1

b : jesus

: a man of rank or high position: as

a : a feudal tenant whose right or title comes directly from the king

b : a British nobleman: as (1) : baron 2a (2) : a hereditary peer of the rank of marquess, earl, or viscount (3) : the son of a duke or a marquess or the eldest son of an earl (4) : a bishop of the Church of England

c plural capitalized : house of lords

—used as a British title: as

a —used as part of an official title <Lord Advocate> <Lord Mayor>

b —used informally in place of the full title for a marquess, earl, or viscount

c —used for a baron

d —used by courtesy before the name and surname of a younger son of a duke or a marquess

: a person chosen to preside over a festival

See lord defined for English-language learners

See lord defined for kids

Origin of LORD

Middle English loverd, lord, from Old English hlāford, from hlāf loaf + weard keeper — more at loaf, ward

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to LORD

Synonyms: baron, captain, czar (also tsar or tzar), king, lion, magnate, mogul, monarch, Napoleon, prince, tycoon

Rhymes with LORD

board, chord, cord, cored, floored, ford, gourd, hoard, horde, oared, pored, sward, sword, ward

²lord

verb

Definition of LORD

intransitive verb

: to act like a lord; especially : to put on airs —usually used with it <lords it over his friends>

See lord defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of LORD

14th century

LORD Defined for Kids

¹lord

noun \ˈlȯrd\

Definition of LORD for Kids

: a person having power and authority over others

cap : god 1

cap : jesus christ

: a British nobleman or bishop —used as a title <Lord Cornwallis>

Word History of LORD

Lord was first formed as a compound word, though its nature has been made unclear by centuries of sound change. The Old English ancestor of lord was hlāford, “head of the household”; this compound is made up of hlāf, “loaf, bread,” and weard, “keeper, guard.” Old English speakers seem to have thought of the most important male in the house as the “keeper of the bread.”