lord

¹lord

noun \ˈlȯrd\

Definition of LORD

1

: 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>

2

capitalized

a : god 1

b : jesus

3

: 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

4

—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

5

: a person chosen to preside over a festival

Examples of LORD

1. He became a lord upon the death of his father.
2. <as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property>

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

Related Words

big boy, big cheese, bigfoot, biggie, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, fat cat, figure, heavy, heavyweight, honcho, kahuna, main man, mover and shaker, nabob, nawab, notable, personage, pooh-bah (also poo-bah), supremo [chiefly British], VIP; celebrity, personality, star, superstar; deity, demigod, god

Near Antonyms

half-pint, lightweight, small-timer; inferior, subordinate, underling; nobody, nothing, zero

Rhymes with LORD

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

²lord

intransitive verb

Definition of LORD

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

First Known Use of LORD

14th century