lord

1 of 2

noun

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 (see real entry 1 sense 2) property
d
obsolete : the male head of a household
e
f
: one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area
a drug lord
2
capitalized
b
: jesus
3
: a man of rank or high position: such as
a
: a feudal tenant whose right or title comes directly from the king
b
: a British nobleman: such as
(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
Lords plural : house of lords
4
used as a British title: such 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

lord

2 of 2

verb

lorded; lording; lords

intransitive verb

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

Examples of lord in a Sentence

Noun He became a lord upon the death of his father. as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property Verb waiters at that fancy restaurant like to lord it over the customers, acting like they're doing them a favor just being there
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
To put 13,000 kilos of cocaine in a container, drug lords must have blind faith customs aren't going to open it, said Cruz Morcillo in ABC (Madrid). The Week Uk, theweek, 24 Nov. 2024 Claiming that too many criminals and drug lords are in the country illegally. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
The singer wrote the score for the stage musical based on the beloved 2006 movie about an eager young journalist (Anne Hathaway) trying to make her mark at a fashion magazine lorded over by an imperial, demanding editor (Meryl Streep). Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 2 Dec. 2024 In other words, River is a nepo baby, and instead of being discharged, he’s condemned to Slough House, where he and the other bargain-bin MI5 agents are lorded over by Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), an ornery but still-brilliant spy in his twilight years. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lord 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lord was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lord

Cite this Entry

“Lord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lord. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

lord

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a person who has power and authority
especially : a ruler to whom service and obedience are due
b
: a person from whom a feudal estate is held
2
capitalized
b
: jesus
3
: a man of rank or high position: as
a
: a feudal tenant holding his estate directly from the king
b
: a British nobleman or a bishop entitled to sit in the House of Lords
used as a title
c
plural capitalized : house of lords

lord

2 of 2 verb
: to act as if having the rank or power of a lord : domineer
used with it
lording it over her younger brothers
Etymology

Noun

Old English hlāford "lord," literally, "bread keeper," from hlāf "loaf of bread" and weard "keeper, guard" — related to lady, loaf see Word History at lady

Word Origin
The word lord comes from the Old English word hlāford. This word was formed from the words hlāf, meaning "loaf of bread," and weard, meaning "keeper, guard." This "bread keeper," however, actually had no more to do with bread than our modern "breadwinner." The hlāford was much more important than his title suggests. He was the head of a great household and had power and authority over many people. The related word lady developed in much the same way.

More from Merriam-Webster on lord

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