lord

plural lords

1. obsoleteThe master of the servants of a household; (historical) the master of a feudal manor

   Lords of manors are distinguished from other land-owners with regard to the game.

   1766, William Blackstone, chapter 418, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book II (Of the Rights of Things), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC

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   Bleſſed is that ſeruant, whome his Lord when he commeth, ſhal finde ſo doing.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 24:46

   Por. ...But now, I was the Lord of this faire manſion, maiſter of my ſeruants, Queene oer my ſelfe[…]

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], line 167

   1. archaicobsoleteThe male head of a household, a father or husband.

      […]thou worthie Lord, Of that vnworthie wife that greeteth thee

      1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC

      3 more examples

      Pet. Katherine, I charge thee, tell theſe head-ſtrong women, What dutie they doe owe their Lords and huſbands!

      c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], line 131

      Therefore Sarah laughed within her ſelfe, ſaying, After I am waxed old, ſhall I haue pleaſure, my lord being old alſo?

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 18:12

      Yes, here I am, my good friend; and here I have been so long, that anywhere else I should think it necessary to apologise; but, the truth is, that I am waiting for my lord and master.

      1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter XVI, in Emma: […], volume III, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC, page 300

   2. archaicobsoleteThe owner of a house, piece of land, or other possession

      A mightie Lord of Swine!

      ante 1637, Ben Jonson, Sad Shepherd, ii. i. 36

      2 more examples

      Turnus[…] Wrench'd from his feeble hold the shining Sword; And plung'd it in the Bosom of its Lord.

      1697, Virgil, “The Twelfth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

      Lord, the owner of the land in which a mine is situated is called the ‘lord’.

      1874, J. H. Collins, “Principles of Metal Mining”, in Gloss, published 1875, 139/2

      Synonyms: drighten, possessor, proprietor, sovereign

2. 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)

   Man over men He made not Lord.

   1667, John Milton, “Book XII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   1 more example

   It is a pytuouse case... whan subjectes rebell agaynst their naturall lorde.

   1530, John Palsgrave, Lesclarcissement, 680/1

   1. historicalA feudal tenant holding his manor directly of the king
   2. A peer of the realm, particularly a temporal one

      Men myghten lordis knowe

      ante 1420, T. Hoccleve, De Regimine Principum, 442

      4 more examples

      If such persone bee of the estate of a Lord, as Duc, Marques, Erle, Viscount or Baron.

      1453, Rolls of Parliament, V. 266/2

      Princes, and noble Lords: What anſwer ſhall I make to this baſe man?

      1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene 1], line 18

      In origination of our Engliſh name Lord, vvhereby vve and the Scots ſtile all ſuch as are of the Greater Nobilitie i. Barons, as alſo Biſhops, its not eaſie to ſatisfie you.

      1614, John Selden, chapter III, in Titles of Honor, London: […] William Stansby for Iohn Helme, […], →OCLC, 1st part, page 59

      The Englishman of to-day still dearly loves a lord.

      1900 July 21, Daily Express

   3. obsoleteuncommonA baron or lesser nobleman, as opposed to greater ones

      1526, W. Bonde, Pylgrimage of Perfection, i. sig. Bviiiv Farre excellyng the state of lordes, erles, dukes or kynges.

      1 more example

      The Marquess played off the two Lords and the Baronet against his former friend.

      1826, Benjamin Disraeli, Vivian Grey, II. iii. iii. 26

3. One possessing similar mastery in figurative senses (esp. as lord of ~)

   Love is Lord of all.

   1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   4 more examples

   O wityng bath god and ill Ȝee suld be lauerds at ȝour will.

   ante 1300, Cursor Mundi, 782

   The sonne is the lorde of planetes.

   1398, Bartholomew de Glanville, translated by John Trevisa, De Proprietatibus Rerum, published 1495, viii. xvi. 322

   The masterful wind was up and out, shouting and chasing, the lord of the morning.

   1895, Kenneth Graham, The Golden Age, London, page 8

   But are you still master of your domain? I am king of the county. You? Lord of the manor.

   1992 November 18, Larry David, Seinfeld, 4.11: "The Contest"

   1. A magnate of a trade or profession.

      The Tobacco Lords were a group of Scottish merchants and slave traders who in the 18th century made enormous fortunes by trading in tobacco.

      1 more example

      Oh, Oh! The cotton Lords are tearing!

      1823, W. Cobbett, Rural Rides, published 1885, I. 399

4. astrologyThe heavenly body considered to possess a dominant influence over an event, time, etc.

   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.

   c. 1391, Geoffrey Chaucer, Treatise on the Astrolabe, ii. §4

5. UKobsoleteslangA hunchback.

   Lord, a very crooked, deformed... Person.

   1699, B.E., A new dictionary of the terms ancient and modern of the canting crew

6. AustraliaUKobsoletevia Cockney rhyming slangSixpence.

   Twenty years ago you might hear a sixpence described as a ‘Lord’ meaning ‘Lord of the Manor’; that is, a tanner.

   1933 November 16, Times Literary Supplement, 782/1

present singular third person lords · participle present lording · participle past lorded · past lorded

1. ambitransitiveTo domineer or act like a lord.

   The grisly toadstool grown there might I see, / And loathed paddocks lording on the same.

   1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “December. Ægloga Duodecima.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], →OCLC

2. transitiveTo invest with the dignity, power, and privileges of a lord; to grant the title of lord.

   He being thus lorded / Not only with what my revenue yielded, / But what my power might else exact, […] / he did believe / He was indeed the Duke

   c. 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, act 1, scene 2

plural Lords

1. countableuncountableThe Abrahamic deity of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths.

   The breath of worldly men cannot depose The Deputie elected by the Lord ...

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], line 53

   1 more example

   If the Lord wanted me to feel better, he'd put me out of my misery. But He wants me to suffer. He's still punishing me.

   1999 February 3, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Strangler's Wood”, in Midsomer Murders

   1. JudaismcountableuncountableIslamThe God of Abraham and the Jewish scriptures.

      Synonyms: Allah, Jehovah

   2. countableuncountableChristianityGod the Father; the Godhead.

      Some trust in charets, and some in horses: but wee will remember the Name of the Lord our God.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 20:7

2. countableuncountableChristianityJesus Christ, God the Son.

   How loyal in the following of thy Lord!

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “(please specify |part=Prologue or Epilogue, or |canto=I to CXXIX)”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   Therfore I doe you to vnderſtand that no má ſpeaking in the Spirit of God, ſaith anáthema to IESVS. And no man can ſay, Our Lord IESVS: but in the holy Ghoſt.

   1582, Douay–Rheims Bible, 1 Corinth. 12:3

3. countableuncountablelifestyleAny other deity particularly important to a religion or a worshipper.

   ...and our Lord [the Horned God] as Master, Father, and Sage.

   2002, A.J. Drew, Wicca for Couples: Making Magick Together, page 89

4. countableuncountableAn English surname transferred from the nickname, originally a nickname for someone who either acted as if he were a lord or had worked in a lord's household.

   Founded by school friends Sir Peter Lord and Sir David Sproxton in 1976, Aardman has given us Morph, Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run, the world's most successful stop-motion film.

   2026 September 4, Dave Harvey, “'Gromit was nearly a cat!': Secrets from 50 years of Aardman”, in BBC News, retrieved 04 Sep 2026

1. An interjection variously expressing astonishment, surprise, resignation.

   O Lord I must laugh.

   c. 1595, William Shakespeare, The Comedie of Errors, published 1623, iii. i. 50

   1 more example

   Lord, lord, Carrados, the tragic monotony of your elderly professional nonentity!

   1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC

plural Lords

1. A formal title of the lesser British nobility, used for a lord of the manor or Lord Proprietor.
2. A generic title used in reference to any peer of the British nobility or any peer below the dignity of duke and (as a courtesy title) for the younger sons of dukes and marquesses (see usage note).

   How do you do, Lord Darlington?

   1892, Oscar Wilde, “Act I”, in Lady Windermere's Fan […]

3. Similar formal and generic titles in other countries.
4. An additional title added to denote the dignity of certain high officials, such as the "Lord Mayors" of major cities in the British Commonwealth
5. The elected president of a festival.
6. WiccaA high priest.

1. Typographical variant of Lord, particularly in English translations of the Bible.

   And the LORD [translating יְהוָה֙ (y'hvh)] ſaid vnto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And hee ſaid, I know not: Am I my brothers keeper?

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 4:9, column 2

   3 more examples

   O Lord our Lord [translating יְהוָ֤ה אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ (y'hvh 'adonéinu)], how meruelous is thy name in the whole earth! Becauſe thy magnificence is eleuated, aboue the heauens.

   1610, The Second Tome of the Holie Bible, […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Doway: Laurence Kellam, […], →OCLC, Psalmes 8:2, page 26

   And the LORD God [translating יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים (y'hvh 'elohím)] ſaid, It is not good that the man ſhould be alone: I will make him an helpe meet for him.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 2:18, column 1

   Then ſaid Dauid to the Philiſtine, Thou commeſt to mee with a ſword, and with a ſpeare, and with a ſhield: but I come to thee in the Name of the LORD of hoſtes [translating יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות (y'hvh ts'va'oth)], the God of the armies of Iſrael, whom thou haſt defied.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 17:45, column 2