释义 |
lordn.int.Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: loaf n.1, English weard , ward n.1. Etymology: < loaf n.1 + Old English weard guard, keeper (see ward n.1). The semantic development has in part been influenced by classical Latin dominus (see domine n.) and later also Anglo-Norman and Old French seignur, Middle French, French seigneur (see seigneur n.), which are frequently translated as lord . Compare lady n.Semantic history. Like the corresponding Old English feminine designation hlǣfdige lady n., the word has no formal parallels in other early Germanic languages (Old Icelandic lávarðr is a borrowing from Middle English). Both words reflect the provision of bread (Old English hlāf loaf n.1) as a staple food item, and the centrality of this to the household; the existence of a larger group of related words may be indicated by hlāfǣta , lit. ‘bread eater’, member of a household, dependant, and hlāfbrytta , lit. ‘bread distributor’, steward, although both of these words are found only in isolated attestations. Similar semantic motivation can be seen in later continental Germanic formations, as Middle Low German brōthēre , German †Brotherr employer of labour, lit. ‘bread-lord’ (15th cent.) and Middle Low German brōtēter , Middle High German brōtezze , brōtezzære (early modern German brotesse , brotesser ) household servant, lit. ‘bread eater’; compare also the much more recent English formation breadwinner n. Form history. The (disyllabic) α. forms reflect the original compound. Already in Old English, the compound appears to have been increasingly opaque (as the semantic development of the word would also suggest) and its phonological development reflects reduction and loss of stress in the second element. With the early variation in the unstressed vowel compare forms of world n. The sole attestation of unreduced Old English hlāfweard (in dative singular form hlāfwearde ), with breaking of the vowel in the second element, perhaps reflects an inflected form with secondary stress, preserved in verse (see R. M. Hogg Gram. Old Eng. (1992) I. §6.7 note 1), although it has also been suggested that it shows re-formation as a conscious archaism (especially given its occurrence in sense A. 1). For early loss of initial w- in the second element of an opaque compound compare fulloght n. The final f of the first element was regularly voiced between vowels already in Old English. In later Middle English α. forms become increasingly rare in the south. Further reduction of the second syllable (and concomitant loss of /v/ before r plus consonant: see R. Jordan Handb. der mittelenglischen Grammatik (ed. 2, 1934) §216.2) gave rise to the monosyllabic β. and γ. forms. The latter originally reflect the regular northern development of the word; examples in later use from outside Scotland and northern England are likely to show more recent developments based on the β. forms, partly reflecting regional pronunciations, and partly as euphemistic alterations of the words as applied to God (especially in uses as interjection). The Scots form laird has also been adopted in standard English to denote the owner of an estate in Scotland: see discussion at laird n. Conversely, forms with o (see β. forms) are already attested in Older Scots from the late 14th cent., and by the mid 15th cent. have become the usual form of the word (except in specific senses); it is uncertain whether these o forms are Anglicisms or the result of a native Scots phonological development (compare A. J. Aitken in Sc. Lang. 16 (1997) 2–3). In forms lo'd and lod chiefly as interjection, and as noun apparently only in phrases invoking God, such as Lord have mercy at Phrases 2b(a); compare Lawd int., Lawd n., and lud int., lud n.2 Specific senses. In Christian use with reference to God (see sense A. 6a) after the corresponding post-classical Latin use (Vulgate) of classical Latin dominus lord (see domine n.). This post-classical Latin use in turn reflects the corresponding Hellenistic Greek (Septuagint; New Testament) of ancient Greek κύριος lord, master (see Kyrie eleison n.), and its various Hebrew models (for this use), e.g. 'ăḏōnāy Adonai n. and YHWH (see Yahweh n. and discussion at Jehovah n.). In uses in Jewish contexts directly after Hebrew 'ăḏōnāy Adonai n. and YHWH (see Yahweh n.); in uses in Muslim contexts partly (in recent use) after the corresponding use of Arabic rabb lord, master, also used with reference to Allah (ultimately related to Hebrew raḇ : see Rav n. and compare rabbi n.1). In Christian use with reference to Jesus Christ (see sense A. 6b) after the corresponding post-classical Latin (Vulgate) use of classical Latin dominus lord (see domine n.), itself after the corresponding Hellenistic Greek (Septuagint; New Testament) use of ancient Greek κύριος lord, master (see Kyrie eleison n.). In Old English in specific use with reference to God or Christ, dryhten drightin n. is usually preferred (compare quots. OE at sense A. 6a, OE at sense A. 6b(a)). With Lords Spiritual and Temporal at sense A. 11a compare post-classical Latin domini tam spirituales quam temporales and similar expressions (from 1394 in British sources), Anglo-Norman seignurs espirituels et temporels (a1307 or earlier); compare Lords Spiritual n. and Lords Temporal n. at Compounds 2. Formal uses in names of offices (see Compounds 2) apparently originated as honorific titles and forms of address (see sense A. 8b), typically in the late 15th and 16th centuries, when Lord is prefixed to existing names of offices (compare early quotations at e.g. Lord Admiral n. at Compounds 2, Lord Chamberlain n. at Compounds 2, Lord Mayor n.); this then became part of the formal title and is later sometimes continued in new formations (e.g. Lord Probationer n. at Compounds 2). It has been suggested that the mocking use to denote a hunchback (see sense A. 15) is related to lordosis n., but this is unlikely for chronological reasons (lordosis being only slightly earlier and originally used in a very different register), especially as the earliest such uses of lord occur in contexts that clearly associate it with lord n. (e.g. my Lord in quot. 1653; compare my Lord at sense A. 10a). A. n. I. A master, proprietor, or leader, and related senses. society > authority > [noun] > those in authority > person in authority > master of servant society > authority > rule or government > rule or government of family or tribe > head of family, tribe, or clan > [noun] > head of household OE (Corpus Cambr.) xv. 15 Ne telle ic eow to ðeowan, forþam se ðeowa nat hwæt se hlafor [d] deð [L. quid facit dominus]. OE (Corpus Cambr. 201) viia. v. 262 Hiredmanna gehwilc sille pænig to ælmessan, oððe his hlaford sille for hine. c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 37 Þa feol ðe þæȝen adun to his lafordes fotum. a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 241 Nan ne mai twan hlaforde..samod þowie. c1300 St. Leonard (Laud) l. 157 in C. Horstmann (1887) 461 (MED) To þe louerd of þat Castel, seint leonard a-niȝht cam. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 1388 Ðis maiden wile ic..to min louerdes bofte bi-crauen. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 6691 Qua smites his thain wit a wand,..If he liue ouer a dai or tuin, þe lauerd sal vnderli na pain. c1475 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson (1842) 47 He wold gif hom toe so muche, or ellus more, As any lord wold euyr or qware. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 145 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 99 Bot yir lordis belyf ye letteris has tane Resauit yaim with reuerence. 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 167 But now I [sc. Portia] was the Lord of this faire mansion, maister of my seruants. View more context for this quotation 1637 S. Rutherford (1894) 164 So I saw the fair face of the lord of the house, it would still my..love-sick desires. 1670 J. A. Comenius tr. Compend. Divine Law in (new ed.) App. 7 For men of this Age to inhabit in one anothers house, it is first necessary to know the Lord of the house, then they may enter and stay. 1795 II. xix. 154 Their dependants and servants, no less happy than their lords, were tuning their harps. 1877 H. D. Gordon iv. 66 This domestic bond of fealty between lord and servant, the strength of which we cannot in these days measure. 1907 Jan. 135 The first loaf was put into this dish by the carver, and a piece of everything the lord was served with. 2004 H. Ellis v. 87 The brightness of their light enhanced the status of the lord of the household, and candles were part of the payments for members of the household. 2. society > authority > [noun] > those in authority > person in authority society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > lord > [noun] OE (2008) 3142 Alegdon ða tomiddes mærne þeoden hæleð hiofende, hlaford leofne. OE (1942) 318 Ic eom frod feores; fram ic ne wille, ac ic me be healfe minum hlaforde, be swa leofan men, licgan þence. OE (Tiber. B.i) 1 Her Eadward kingc, Engla hlaford, sende soþfæste sawle to Criste. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1378 Þa comen þas cnihtes ut of Brutaine ferden of Lumbardie to Alamaigne. Assarac þe com ut of þissen eard his broðren hine cleopeden heora lauerd. c1300 (Laud) (1868) 607 Þis [is] ure eir Þat shal [ben] louerd of denemark. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 3405 Swiche a lorld of lederes ne liued nouȝt, þei held. c1400 (?c1380) (1920) l. 1418 (MED) So watz served fele syþe þe sale alle aboute, Wyth solace at þe sere course bifore þe self lorde. c1450 (c1350) (Bodl.) (1929) 174 A wel-langaged lud let þe king sone Aspien..ho were lord of hur land. a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 629 Ciliarcha, a lord of thowsond knygtes. 1530 J. Palsgrave iii. f. cccxxxiiiv It is a pytuouse case and their owne distruction whan subjectes rebell agaynst their naturall lorde. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta iii. xx. 185 The Citie of Cusco, (the ancient Court of the Lordes of those Realmes). 1667 J. Milton xii. 70 Man over men He made not Lord . View more context for this quotation 1747 T. Carte I. xlii. 704 The king hereupon dismissed the nobility, that had followed their lord's fortune, with large presents. 1788 E. Gibbon IV. xlii. 254 The common people [in Mingrelia] are in a state of servitude to their lords. 1841 G. P. R. James I. iii. 65 Who is lord here upon the side of the mountain but I? 1855 T. B. Macaulay III. xiii. 321 A race which reverenced no lord, no king but himself. 1954 W. Golding ix. 179 Nothing prospered but the flies who blackened their lord and made the spilt guts look like a heap of glistening coal. 1968 Mar. 38/2 The death of their lord had stripped from them their proudest possession—the very right to be called samurais. 2007 M. Garrett Introd. in M. Hudson tr. p. xi The members of a comitatus or closely-knit band give their lord unswerving loyalty in battle. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [noun] > chief of its or his kind OE Ælfric Interrogationes Sigewulfi in Genesin (Corpus Cambr. 162) VI, in (1884) 7 6 Hwi wæs Adame an treow forboden, þaþa he wæs ealles oðres hlaford? lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Bodl.) (2009) I. xvi. 273 Hwæðer ge..ongitan hwelc se wela se and se anweald and ða woruldgesælþa? Þa sint eowre hlafordas & eowre wealdendas, næs ge heora. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 1299 Bule lateþþ modiliȝ..& hallt himm all forr laferrd. 1340 (1866) 84 (MED) Man..wes lhord of alle ssepþes..onder heuene and to huam alle þinges boȝen. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xvi. 484 Þe sonne is þe..lord of planetis. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 782 O wityng bath god an[d] ill ȝee suld be lauerds at ȝour will. a1450 (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 11 (MED) As sone as we leue þe loue of hym..we leese þe lordisdome of þis worlde..þere we were so fre as þe kyngis sones of heuene & lordis of alle þe world. 1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in (1998) I. 191 The lord of wyndis..(God Eolus). 1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Rome in sig. R4 As men in Summer fearles passe the foord Which is in Winter lord of all the plaine. 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 38 When they [sc. wives] striue to be Lords ore their Lordes? View more context for this quotation 1643 J. Angier 7 Fire is a cruell Lord. 1668 J. Dryden 5 He is..the envy of a great person, who is Lord in the Art of Quibbling. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 128 Love is Lord of all. View more context for this quotation 1764 ‘C. Morell’ I. 3 No Man is Master of himself, but the Public is Lord over him. 1779 T. Jefferson Let. 27 Mar. in (1950) II. 237 Are they [sc. Congress] so far lords of right and wrong as that our consciences may be quiet with their dispensation? 1830 J. G. Strutt (rev. ed.) 10 The attribute of strength, by which the lord of the woods is more peculiarly distinguished. 1884 R. Browning Family in 27 A leech renowned World-wide, confessed the lord of surgery. 1931 July 361/1 A surly old he-bear who figured he was lord of that domain. 2008 J. Quinn xxx. 138 You were lord of the dance And of the playing fields. 3. the mind > possession > possessor > [noun] > owner > landowner OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) v. 41 Þæs wingeardes hlaford..gemette oðre hyrmenn..and he cwæð him to, Gað into minum wingearde. OE (Claud.) xxi. 29 Gyf se oxa hnitol wære.., & hi hit his hlaforde cyddon & he hine belucan nolde. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. vi. 5 He..shal ȝelde alle þynges hole þat þorw fraude he wolde wiþholde, &..þe fifþe part to þe lord [L. domino] to whom he dede þe harm. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 601, l. 602 Als oure lauerd has heuen in hand Sua suld man be lauerd of land. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. vii. l. 156 Amonges lowere lordes þi londe shal be departed. c1525 ( in N. J. Byrne (2007) 97 All suche lordes as have Gutters betwyxt thar houses. 1581 R. Mulcaster xxxv. 124 Like two tenantes in one house belonging to seuerall lordes. a1637 B. Jonson Sad Shepherd ii. i. 36 in (1640) III A mightie Lord of Swine! View more context for this quotation 1673 J. Ray 142 Divers persons have interest in the Brine-pit, so that it belongs not all to one Lord. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil 594 Turnus..Wrench'd from his feeble hold the shining Sword; And plung'd it in the Bosom of its Lord. 1717 A. Pope tr. Homer III. xi. 208 Many a Car, now lighted of its Lord. 1760 S. Foote ii. 53 To let a lord of lands want shiners; 'tis a shame. 1866 J. B. Rose tr. Ovid 23 Aye, all my knowledge unavails its lord. 1901 11 May 149/2 Mr. Lambert's bill..might have weakened the feudal relation between lord and tenant. 1990 N. H. MacKenzie 268 Every other member of the university could similarly claim to be lord of these grounds. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > lord > [noun] > feudal lord society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > one who has tenure > [noun] > (feudal) superior society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > lord > feudal lord OE (Nero) ii. lxxvii. 364 Fo se hlaford to þam æhtan & to his lande, þe he him ær sealde. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) i. 453 Se scadwis gerefa sceal ægðær witan ge hlafordes landriht ge folces gerihtu. lOE (Laud) anno 1086 On þam ilcan geare..for Willelm cyng of Normandige into France mid fyrde & hergode uppan his agenne hlaford Philippe þam cynge. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 14703 Ȝiff þu takesst bisne att himm [sc. Abraham]..To wurrþenn herrsumm to þin prest. & till þin tuness laferrd [etc.]. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 3662 Cadour erl of cornwayle..To þe king is louerd wende. c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 107 (MED) Non ne shal haue power to ȝiue rentes ne to resceyue bot..he be comen of grete kynde oiþer þat he be in grete lordes seruise. 1433 (Electronic ed.) Parl. July 1433 §43. m. 5 Savyng allwey to the lorde of the fee, eschetes of his landes. 1497 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1497 §12. m. 5 The seid kyng of Scottis..ought..to..holde of you, sovereign lorde, his seid realme. 1530 J. Palsgrave iii. f. cccxxx He was bayliffe of the towne, but the lorde hath put hym out. 1563 sig. Ssssiiv The Lords recordes (which be the tenauntes euidences) be peruerted and translated, sometyme to the disherytyng of the ryght owner. 1607 J. Norden iii. 109 The tenants..are bound to grind their corne at the Lords mill. 1692 A. Wood II. 110 The antient Family of Des Ewes, Dynasts or Lords of the dition of Kessell. 1740 at Common fine A certain Fine which the Resiants within the Liberty of some Lords pay to the Lord of the same. 1778 W. Pryce 324 Lord of the land or fee. 1818 W. Cruise (ed. 2) III. 427 The lord may seise the copyhold to his own use. 1839 T. Keightley (new ed.) I. 77 The rights of the Lord of a town extended to the levying of tolls and customs. 1940 S. Painter i. 6 The eleventh-century baron who possessed a strong castle..could defy his lord with comparative impunity. 2013 2 46 Childwite..was a fine paid by a man to his lord for unlawfully impregnating his bond women. the mind > possession > possessor > [noun] > owner > landowner > other specific landowners 1653 E. Manlove 5 See that right be done from time, to time, Both to the Lord, and Farmers, on the Mine. 1747 W. Hooson sig. Mjb The chief Proprietor and Lord of the Mine; to whom Lot or Farm is paid by the Miner. 1874 J. H. Collins (1875) Gloss. 139/2 Lord, the owner of the land in which a mine is situated is called the ‘lord’. 1910 12 Mar. 565/2 The working costs were 25.7s. exclusive of the lord's royalty of 2.2s. society > trade and finance > trader > merchant > [noun] > wealthy 1821 26 May 546 The big farmers, the cotton-lords, the anvil-lords, the bank-lords, and the ship-lords, seem to be pretty well provided for. 1841 R. Cobden Let. 12 Oct. in J. Morley (1881) I. x. 210 The cotton lords are not more popular than the landlords. 1884 D. Robertson I. 44 The style of building patronised by the tobacco and sugar lords, and other wealthy citizens. 1900 17 Jan. 10/1 A suspicion that the ‘coal-lords’ are hoarding their supplies. 1953 S. J. Perelman Let. 23 Dec. in (1987) 148 The press lord and his lady, on hearing I was bound for Kenya, began giving me unsolicited advice. 2008 (Nexis) 3 May Just above the knee is—thank you lords of fashion—a flattering length for almost everyone. society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married man > [noun] > husband eOE (Kentish) Charter: Eadweald & Cyneðryð (Sawyer 1200) in N. P. Brooks & S. E. Kelly (2013) 778 Ðis is geðinge Eadwaldes..& Cyneðryðe Eðelmodes lafe aldormonnes ymbe ðet lond et Cert ðe hire Eðelmod hire hlabard salde. OE (Tiber. B.iv) anno 1076 Se cyngc hig [sc. Queen Edith] let bryngan to Westmynstre mid mycclan weorðscype & leide heo wið Eadwarde cynge hire hlaforde. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 43 Eue..nom & eet þer of & ȝef hire lauerd. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1497 Þu..scalt habben to lauerd [c1300 Otho louerd] min alre beste þein. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 8902 Damaisele..þi louerd ssal abbe an name Vor him & vor is eirs vair wiþoute blame. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 2689 (MED) Mark, her lord, þe king, Wiþ tresoun may hir to. c1440 (?a1400) l. 3918 (MED) Scho kayres to Karelyone and kawghte hir a vaile..all for falsede and frawde and fere of hir louerde. c1450 (a1375) (Calig.) (1979) l. 684 Þat wyf..grauntede well þat ylke day Her lordes wylle. 1485 (Caxton) i. ii. sig. a.ij She merueilled who that myght be that laye with her in lykenes of her lord. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. ii. 136 Tell these head-strong women, what dutie they doe owe their Lords and husbands. View more context for this quotation 1681 Viscountess Campden Let. 25 Aug. in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Duke of Rutland (1889) 56 in (C. 5889–II) XLIV. 393 My Lady Skidmore and her lord was at Mr. Conisby's house upon a visette. 1754 S. Richardson VII. xliii. 214 Do they wish, like the wives of some Pagan wretches, to be thrown into the funeral pile, with the dead bodies of their Lords? 1767 W. L. Lewis tr. Statius I. vi. 44 The childless Mother raves, And far out-weeps her Lord. 1861 C. M. Yonge xxv. 371 She was come to take leave of home, for her lord was not to be dissuaded from going to London by the evening's train. 1885 G. Meredith I. x. 229 A woman submits to be the humbly knitting housewife, unquestioningly worshipful of her lord. 1914 S. Mitchell 116 Tell the dame what fate her lord should have if three days gone no ransom bond came back to bring release. 1953 E. Marshall ii. 31 She admitted him to her bower now and again, while her lord was trading in Trieste. 2006 Aug. 109/1 The Lebanese love-boat and her lord have got the best manners in London. the world > people > person > man > [noun] > as a form of address OE Byrhtferð (Ashm.) (1995) iii. i. 124 Se wurðfulla biscop Theophilus Alexandrige mægðe wrat ænne pistol and asende hine þam yldran Theodosio casere, þus cweðende: Hyt gedafenað, la wynsuma hlaford,..þæt we anbidion [etc.]. c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine (1993) 64 Laford, la, hwylc is he þæt ic ilyfe on hine? c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 7025 Þa queð Hengest to þan kinge Lauerd [c1300 Otho Louerd] hærcne tiðende. c1300 (Laud) (1868) 621 Lowerd, we sholen þe wel fede. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1439 Leue lord & ludes lesten to mi sawes! a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) ii. l. 975 To Pandarus he [sc. Troilus]..seyde lord al þyn be þat I haue. a1500 (Harl.) (1966) l. 200 (MED) Lordys..Y ordeyne my steward of myn halle. c1565 (Copland) sig. C.i The[y] sayed Lord we beseche the here that ye wyll graunt vs grace. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher v. iii. 96 Loue and meekenesse, Lord, Become a Churchman, better then Ambition. View more context for this quotation 1873 J. F. Dickson tr. Upasampadá-kammavácá in 7 (1875) 10 Are you a free man? Yes, lord. Are you free from debt? Yes, lord. 1997 B. Cornwell (1998) 343 ‘You can ride without a saddle, Lord?’ he asked me. 6. the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > [noun] OE xv. 17 Ita est dominus pater, dominus filius, ita dominus spiritus sanctus : swa is hlaford se fæder [OE Cambridge Psalter drihtyn fædyr] is se sunu hlaford swa & is se halga gast hlaford swa. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) (1997) 100 Micel eart þu, hlaford God, & micel is þin mihte. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 11391 Þe birrþ biforr þin laferrd godd Cneolenn meoclike & lutenn. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 7 Ic am swiðe forȝelt aȝeanes mine laferde god almihtin. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 71 Lauerd god we biddeð þus. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) 3 Kings xviii. 36 Lord god [L. Domine Deus] of Abraham & of ysaac & of israel. c1390 (Vernon) l. 164 Bi þe lord and þe lawe þat we onne leeue. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) l. 6163 To moyses þan vr lauerd teld, Quat wise þai suld þair pask held. ?a1475 (1922) 44 (MED) Loke þat þin herte in hevyn toure be sett to serve oure lord god. c1500 (?a1475) (1896) l. 2093 (MED) But the wey thedyrward to holde be we lothe, That oft sythe causeth the good Lorde to be wrothe. 1560 in J. Stuart (1844) I. 328 Be the lewing Lord, the eternal God..I do heir promise..that [etc.]. 1597 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 53 The breath of worldly men cannot depose, The deputy elected by the Lord . View more context for this quotation 1599 H. Austell in R. Hakluyt (new ed.) II. i. 209 They [sc. pilgrims at Mecca] wash themselues from head to foote, saying, Tobah Allah, Tobah Allah, that is to say, Pardon lord, Pardon lord. 1617 J. Salkeld xx. 122 Not any creature so indomite, but that it was subject vnto mans dominion, while man was subiect to his Lord and Maker. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher iii. ii. 162 The Lord increase this businesse. View more context for this quotation 1724 P. Walker 46 That dismal Day..the Lord's People fell and fled before the Enemy. 1764 W. Guthrie et al. VII. 38 O Lord God, if it is more for the good of my subjects, that my brother should reign.., let him prevail. 1827 C. Simeon Let. 10 June in (1847) 609 This is the Lord's work, and fit for a Sabbath-day. 1854 D. W. Marks Serm. in (1885) 2nd Ser. iv. 42 Wherever man is placed..it behoves him to remember, that the ever-watchful eye of the Lord is upon him. 1855 J. Motley 38 We cannot give them, the Lord Allah has forbidden it. 1897 R. Kipling in 17 July 13/6 Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet. 1925 Apr. 9/2 He was convinced that the Lord had shown him the way and he must act. 1967 S. Terkel vi. 126 Whatever his shortcomings are, the good Lord will compensate for them. 2002 H. A. Adil i. 2 When Allah Almighty had spoken these words, the Pen split in two from awe of the Lord. 2014 Mar. 19/1 The preacher spoke of giving your life to the service of the Lord. b. the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > the Trinity > the Son or Christ > [noun] OE Wulfstan Homily: Be Mistlican Gelimpan (Tiber. A.iii) in A. S. Napier (1883) 175 Drihten, hlaford Crist, alys us ealle þurh þine micelan mildheortnesse. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 186 Forr an godnesse uss hafeþþ don. Þe laferrd crist onn erþe. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 28088 To my lard ic am of-sene To crist ic haue vn-buxum bene. c1400 in T. F. Simmons (1879) 125 (MED) Þou art a sooþfaste leche, lord. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus I. Luke f. 154v With such a trayne about him, did the Lord Iesus goe vnto Hierusalem. 1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Gen. Argt. sig. ¶.iiij Our mighty Sauiour and eternall redeemer the L. Christ. 1642 S. Ashe 25 The Lord our Saviour hath cast up such a caus-way to Heaven. 1662 W. Bates i. 2 His great design is..to express and prove the vertue and efficacy of the Lord Jesus his death. 1746 J. Wesley 18 June (1931) II. 67 One who openly denied the Lord that bought him; I mean, openly denied the supreme Godhead of Christ. 1777 I. Backus I. i. 27 The Lord Jesus speaks of the utter ruinating and destruction of the tares. 1823 ‘G. Smith’ i. 26 He informs the Lord what he had heard about Paul. 1889 Ld. Tennyson 173 How loyal in the following of thy Lord! 1909 10 Apr. 570/2 The ideal purity of the Lord's Mother was best expressed in the purity of white lilies. 1965 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones 84 He was the last of the apostles to see the risen Lord. 2004 Dec. 64/2 One of the prominent names of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible is ‘the Lamb’. the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > the Trinity > the Son or Christ > [noun] OE tr. Vindicta Salvatoris (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) in J. E. Cross (1996) 257 Ic hyne wrecan wolde and ealle hys fynd ofslean, forþam þe hig swa ymbe urne hlaford [sc. Christ] gedydon. a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 243 Ure laford ihesu crist þe seið Sine me nichil potestis facere. a1275 in C. Brown (1932) 38 In him com ur lord gon as is postles setten at mete. 1340 (1866) 213 (MED) We ssolle þe festes of halȝen loki, and bidde þet hi ous helpe auoreye oure lhord Iesu crist. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 136 Oure lorde Iesu..Fastit him self, oure exampill to be. 1548 f. cxiij And it happened in the night of the Assencion of our lorde, that Pothon..issued out of Champeigne. 1653 W. Basse in I. Walton iii. 81 Our Lord was pleased, when He Fishers made Fishers of men. 1738 D. Waterland App. 59 We represent and commemorate mentally, vocally, and manually,..the Death and Burial of Christ our Lord. ?1765 B. Wallin iv. 66 This glorious and important event, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1889 Apr. 35 The Unitarian conception of our Lord's Person and Office. 1947 E. Taylor xi. 159 A picture of Our Lord carrying a nouveau-art lantern. 2008 4 July 16/3 Division among conference participants over the meaning of our Lord's words. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1934) 42 (MED) Þe unsehene unwihtes wunieð ham [sc. idols] in-wið, ant tu ase þine lauerdes luuest ham. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 1765 Appollin mi lauer [emended in ed. to lauerd], ich þankie þe þat mi fæder is icumme to me. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 357 Lord Phebus dooth this myracle for me. c1450 (c1350) (Bodl.) (1929) l. 665 (MED) He [sc. Mars] is alosed in lande, lord of þe breste. 1534 N. Udall f. 10v O Iuppiter, quid ego audio? O lorde what do I here? 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 1291 For their king and lord Osiris, they depaint and pourtray, by an eie and a scepter. 1689 G. Raymond Introd. p. xliii The best defence the greatest Men among the Pagans could make for the worship of those many Lords. 1794 W. Jones tr. i. 4 In whatever occupation the supreme Lord first employed any vital soul, to that occupation the same soul attaches itself spontaneously, when it receives a new body again and again. 1804 278 Such magic has the Lord Apollo. 1831 V. Kennedy vii. 98 Ashwalayana, having approached Brahma, thus addressed him:—‘O lord! instruct me in the knowledge of God, that most excellent and hidden truth.’ 1882 M. Williams tr. Śikshā-Patrī in 14 759 Other persons (who have no worldly means) should engage in the worship of the supreme Lord (Vishṇu). 1928 May 110/1 The original Hanuman of the great Indian epic..helped the Lord Rama with never-failing faithfulness and devotion. 1990 (Nexis) 29 Apr. 138 Hordes of pilgrims descend on Pushkar to take ritual baths in the lake created when Lord Brahma dropped a lotus petal countless moons ago. 2001 J. E. Cort iii. 73 This signifies that the worshiper bears the instruction of the Lord upon the head, that the pūja will be performed..at the instruction of the Jina. society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Buddhism > [noun] > founder or teacher of 1727 J. G. Scheuchzer tr. E. Kæmpfer I. i. ii. 36 The Deity..visited the World eight different times, appear'd the ninth in the person of this Negro, whom for this reason they [sc. in Siam] style..Prah bin Tsiau, the Saint who is the Lord; or plainly Prah, the Saint, or Budha'. 1826 H. H. Wilson tr. viii. 137 Where shall I fly to—the LordBuddha be my refuge. 1884 W. W. Rockhill tr. 99 While thus seated he said to the Blessed One, ‘If the Lord, the Blessed One, will permit it, I will ask him a question.’ 1956 E. Conze i. i. 45 Perfect in his knowledge and conduct.., leader of men to be tamed, teacher of gods and men, the Buddha, the Lord. 1994 R. Viladesau & M. Massa 101 The Lotus Sûtra holds that Gautama was not..an ordinary human being who attained enlightenment... Rather, he has existed as Buddha, the supreme Lord, for incalculable ages. 2011 (Nexis) 26 Sept. 24 The Buddhist calendar..says that it is the 2,555th year since the nirvana of Lord Buddha. the world > the universe > heavenly body > as influence on mankind > [noun] > influence > planet as > dominant a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. x. 466 Aries is a firy signe..and þe hous of Mars. Þe sonne is lord þerof by day and Iubiter be nyȝte. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 205 Infortunat Ascendent tortuous Of which the lord is helplees falle..Out of his angle in to the derkest hous. a1550 (c1477) T. Norton (Bodl. e Mus.) l. 2954 (MED) For the white worke make fortunat the mone, for the lorde of the iiii howse likewise be it done. 1579 T. Lupton iv. 104 When the Alumten, or the Lorde of the Ascendent is Infortunate, in his fall. 1630 tr. G. Botero (rev. ed.) 15 Those who have Mars Lord in their Nativities, become either Souldiers or Trades-men. 1653 R. Saunders ii. 152 The Sun, when he is Alfridary or Lord of a Cholerick, he causeth him to be of a brown colour. 1726 S. Penseyre 86 If the Planet that beholds your Significator be an Infortune and Lord of a bad House, then he signifies Mischief to the Querent. 1819 J. Wilson 280 The lord of the hour is the planet supposed to govern the planetary hour at the moment of a nativity, or at the time of asking a horary question. 1895 1 21 The position of the Significator, or lord of the Ascendant, in the fixed sign Taurus. 2003 (Nexis) 1 Mar. Saturn, the Lord of the House of production and speculation,..gives benefits in the stock market. II. As a designation of rank or office and related senses. 8. As an honorific title or (occasionally in early use) as a form of address. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > prefixed to name society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for a lord OE (Tiber. B.i) (Mercian register) anno 919 Her eac wearð Æþeredes dohtor Myrcna hlafordes ælces anwealdes on Myrcum benumen. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) iv. xxvii. 300 In þam cwylde, se þe geswæncte swiðe þas burh in Norses tidum þæs hlafordes [L. patricii]. 1363 in 64 (MED) By ye Gyft..of sir Williamz of loncastr, hole lord of Wyresdale, & of other dyuersez senyours. 1427 in R. T. Storey (1959) 62 (MED) I Elizabeth, lady of Ravenswath, late the wyf of the Lord FitzHugh..devyse and ordeyne my testament. 1455 Petition in (1767–77) V. 332/2 William Bonvyle Knyght, Lord Bonevile, his servauntes and adheraunts. 1545 in J. Stuart (1844) I. 214 George Erle of Huntlie, Lord Gordoun and of Bangzenocht. 1569 R. Grafton II. 294 On the French part the Lorde John Cleremount fought vnder his awne Banner. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. vii. 61–65 Valiant Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury: Created..Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Vrchinfield, Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdon of Alton [etc.]. 1636 J. Trussell 93 Sir Iohn Oldcastle in right of his Wife called in courtesie Lord Cobham. 1702 I. i. 50 The Lord Conway, who, for age and incapacity, was at last removed from the Secretary's office. 1781 (title) The Trial of the Honourable George Gordon, Commonly called Lord George Gordon. 1840 July 141/2 Lord Chatham, in an angry and contemptuous tone, directed Dr. Addington to break off all intercourse. a1865 C. C. F. Greville (1885) II. 171 I dined with Lord and Lady Frederick FitzClarence and Lord Westmoreland. 1930 V. Sackville-West i. 19 Lord Robert Gore was a clever, ambitious young man. 2002 N. Lebrecht vii. 206 Lord and Lady Brent..got ennobled for donations to Mrs Thatcher's party. society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > [noun] > prefixed to title of OE Glosses to Memoriale of Benedict of Aniane in A. S. Napier (1916) 120 Cum domnus abbas..alicui ex fratribus aliquid opus facere precipit : þonne se hlaford abbod..ænigum ænig weorc don he byt. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) (1997) 94 Hlaford biscop, geond me læt þry iunga men to slege. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Paris) (1971) 598 Þe pelotes ben made suspecte þe whiche þe Lord Bisshop of Rygence counseilled þe Lord Bisshop of Marsilence..to hele þe peynefulle strangurie, for he was dede in slepynge. ?1450 in E. M. Carus-Wilson (1937) 92 (MED) To the reverent fader in god, my lorde Cardynall and Chaunceller of Ingelond. 1530 J. Palsgrave iii. f. clv I am somoned by a sergent at armes to apere byfore my lorde chaunceller. 1568–9 (1889) I. 315 James Thomsoun..being somound wytht my lord superintendentis lettres. 1639 (title) A Relation of the Conference betweene William Lawd..now, Lord-Arch-Bishop of Canterbury: and Mr. Fisher the Jesuite. 1660 S. Pepys 3 Mar. (1970) I. 76 My Lord Generall Fleetwood told my Lord that he feared the King of Sweden is dead. 1747 tr. F. von der Trenck 88 I arrived near the monastery, as my Lord Abbot was upon his return from the camp. 1774 J. Collyer II. v. 155 The king..said, with tear in his eyes, ‘My lord archbishop, what occasion is there for many words?’ 1845 I. 127 The Lord Cardinal..was disquieted by bad omens. 1872 7 Dec. 1489/1 The natural remedy would have been to supersede all these sinecure offices by a single Lord Controller. 1906 Aug. 408/2 He was on the march with an army that called him Tuan Nakim, the lord magistrate. 1980 P. Zagorin i. 6 Later in the play, as lord governor in Richard's absence, Edmund of York will denounce Bolingbroke. 2001 T. Kneale (2007) i. 10 Also present are the Lord Bishop..and clergy and captains of parishes. OE (Tiber.) (1993) lvi. 116 Uti patronus noster, beatus Benedictus, non alta..uoce loquendum permisimus : eallswa hlaford ure se eadiga na hluddre..stefne to specenne we geþafedon. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) (1997) 98 Hlaford Sancte Nicolae, help us & geteoðe us þæt we þe gett geseon moton. c1200 Serm. in (1961) 7 61 (MED) Þe louerd seinte paul seiþ Ine þe halie pistel þet, [etc.]. c1250 in (1935) 70 243 Yborit werin ut þe heþen [read eyen] of þe louerld [read louerd] S. blase. 1340 (1866) 14 (MED) Mi lhord sanyn Ion ine..þe apocalipse zuo zayþ þet he yseȝ a best. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 344 By that lord þt called is Seint Iame As I haue thries..Swyued the Milleris doghter. OE tr. (1958) li. 42 Hellanicus..cwæð to þam cynge: Hlaford cyng [L. domine rex], gemun Hellanicus, þinne þeow. lOE (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 Þa aseh dune se biscop of Lincolne & seide to þam kyng: ‘Laferd kyng, ic swelte.’ 1393 in C. Innes (1853) II. 190 That the fornemyt Lord Erle hase grantyt and grantes be this wryt to the said Sir James of Douglas the fadir his speciale leise. 1423 Petition in (1907–9) 7 307 (MED) To owre Worshipfull and graciouse lord Erle of Suffolk..Besechys mekely the pore tenauntry of the Duchie of Lancastre. 1444 in J. Stuart (1844) I. 13 Quhat time it be plessand to the said Lord Erle [of Orkynnay]. 1512–13 in J. B. Paul (1902) IV. 403 To ane Irische nuris that gaif my Lord Prince sulk the tyme he wes seik. a1566 T. Hoby (1902) 72 At Chasteubriant the French King shewed my Lord Marquess great plesure and disport. 1587 T. Churchyard sig. I3v There are in a goodly or stately place set out my Lord Earle of Warwicks Armes. 1621 P. Heylyn 126 If our Lord Duke Lodowicke will gently stroake the hand of his puissance ouer this City. 1661 7 Jan. His excellency the lord Marquesse of Montrose. 1702 N. Rowe Ep. Ded. sig. a2 To the Right Honourable William Lord Marquiss of Hartington. 1750 H. Purefoy 18 Oct. (1931) II. xvi. 413 My Lord Duke of Grafton had ordered a case to be laid before the Attorney Generall. 1829 W. Scott III. iv. 111 Our purses, my Lord Duke, are our own. 1852 W. M. Thackeray II. xv. 270 He will be at Roncq time enough to lick my Lord Duke's trenchers at supper. a1974 G. Heyer (1977) i. iv. 79 He answered that my lord Duke had died at Calais. 1991 S. K. Penman i. 5 ‘My lord Earl!’ Damian stumbled backward, groping for his crucifix. 9. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > lord OE Sedulius Glosses (Corpus Cambr. 173) in H. D. Meritt (1945) 33/2 [Caelicolae adsistunt] proceres [coetusque] : hlafordas. c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 158 (MED) Þe grete lordes of þe werlde taken wiþ strengþe þere þat þai shulden nouȝth taken. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 4539 To fare out as fast with his fader to speke, & with lordesse [= lordes] of þat lond. 1387–8 Petition London Mercers in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 33 [T]o the moost noble & Worthiest Lordes, moost ryghtful & wysest conseille to owre lige Lorde the Kyng. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 442 Men myghten lordes knowe By there array, from oþer folke. 1453–4 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Mar. 1453 §65. m. 4 If such persone bee of the estate of a lord, as duc, marques, erle, viscount or baron. 1505 F. Marsin et al. Rep. Ferdinand of Arragon in J. Gairdner (1858) 276 What attendance he hath abouts hym of lords and nobles of his reame. 1548 H. Latimer sig. B.iiiiv For euer sence the Prelates were made Lordes and nobles, the ploughe standeth. 1597 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 18 Princes and noble Lords, What answer shall I make to this base man? View more context for this quotation 1614 J. Selden i. iii. 59 Our English name Lord, whereby we and the Scots stile all such as are of the Greater Nobilitie i. Barons, as also Bishops. 1641 xiii. 49 A Banquet for Madam Regent and the Queene of Navarre, and other Noble Personages, Lords and Ladies. 1732 W. King ii. 71 (note) He wou'd boast, that notwithstanding his Exile, he had sufficient Power to raise himself to the Dignity of a Lord. 1788 J. Howard Let. 23 Mar. in R. Price (1994) III. 167 Most public Institutions are made private emoluments, one sheltering himself under a Bishop, another that of a Lord. 1826 B. Disraeli II. iii. iii. 26 The Marquess played off the two Lords and the Baronet against his former friend. 1876 R. Browning 66 He's social, takes his rest On Sundays, with a Lord for guest. 1900 21 July 5/7 The Englishman of to-day still dearly loves a lord. 1955 N. Mitford in Sept. 12/1 The English lord has been nurtured on the land and is conversant with the cunning ways of the animal kingdom. 2001 6 May i. 23/1 Baronesses..have got where they are without having married a lord. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > baron or baroness > [noun] > baron a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich xiii. l. 501 (MED) Eualach..Clepeth forth lord, dwk, Erl, and bachelere. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Bviiiv Farre excellyng the state of lordes, erles, dukes or kynges. 1691 R. Ames Ded. sig. A2 When I had finisht this little Piece, I was thinking what Duke, Marquess, Earl, Lord, Knight, Squire or Gentleman to Dedicate it to. 1730 4 The Dominia of Lords are called only Baronies. 10. a. my Lord. N.E.D. (1903) states that this is ‘usually pronounced (milǭ·ɹd) /mɪˈlɔːd/’; this is now restricted to ceremonial and very formal use.society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > judge > [noun] > form of address to c1300 (?c1225) (Cambr.) (1901) l. 437 Help me to kniȝte Bi al þine miȝte, To my lord þe king, Þat he me ȝiue dubbing. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) (1937) 1228 ‘Mi lord þe douke,’ he seyd anon, ‘For schame lete þo leuedis gon.’ 1395 in F. J. Furnivall (1882) 7 To praye diuine seruice for my lordes soule Sir Thomas West. a1438 (1940) i. 1330 (MED) Sche seyde to þe Erchebischop, ‘My Lord..ȝyf it lyke ȝow, I wyl gon ageyn to hir.’ 1482 in J. P. Collier (1844) 321 The same day, my Lord rekened with his lokyer. 1543 in J. Stuart (1844) I. 190 My lord, we recommend our hartlie and humil seruice vnto your lordschip. 1584 95 My Lord of Leycester is verie well knowen, to haue no title to the Crown. 1598 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 64 This bald vnioynted chat of his (my Lord) I answered indirectly. View more context for this quotation 1637 T. Heywood v. sig. Iivv You my Lord of Chester appeare shallow, To thinke my actions can disgrace the Kings. 1684 Lady Russell 20 Apr. (1773) 17 I hear my Lord Gainsborough and my Lady will be shortly at Chilten. 1742 H. Fielding I. Pref. p. viii I apprehend, my Lord Shaftesbury's Opinion of mere Burlesque agrees with mine. View more context for this quotation 1766 G. Colman & D. Garrick v. i. 85 Your nephew, my Lord, has been plotting to run away with the younger sister. 1812 23 Nov. 737/1 What [is there] in my Lord Eldon but a lachrymose impotence? 1870 C. Dickens iv. 21 Mr. Sapsea has even been spoken to in the street as My Lord, under the impression that he was the Bishop. 1903 Aug. 401/1 ‘It is well, my lord!’ retorted the minx. ‘I have a wish to see a sahib somewhat closer.’ 1994 S. Robinson ii. 17 I may store these away along with our other American accoutrements, my lord? c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner (1876) 230 (MED) The mater was put to my Lorde of London. 1561 Stanford Churchwardens' Accts. in (1888) 17 168/1 At my lorde of Sarums commandment. 1640 E. Pagitt (ed. 3) xvi. 199 A petition to my Lords Grace of Canterbury. 1709 W. Nelson 174 My Lord of Sarum..makes it a Doubt whether the Clergy were ever in Possession of any Right to be chosen Members of Parliament. 1751 T. Secker Let. 26 July in (1991) 212 If my Lord of Lincoln will endeavour..to prevail with his Dean & Chapter to come onto this method, he will perform a Brotherly part. 1874 Feb. 57/1 My lord of Lincoln, was far more sumptuous in his profusion than his episcopal brother of Chichester. 1953 C. A. Brady xvii. 297 What grieved More most of all..was the way in which..my Lord of Durham, Cuthbert Dunstall, acceded to the royal fiat. 1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 90/2 in R. Holinshed I Sir Iohn Alen spake to the Lorde Iustice these woordes. My Lorde, your house giueth the Marmoset. 1699 43 Sir, please to give my Lord and the Court an account what you know of me. 1794 1 My Lord, I object to Mr. William Creech. 1859 5 Feb. 246/1 My Lord, there is something singularly interesting in the contemplation of the judicial system of this ancient kingdom. 1905 34 I submit, my lord,..that this is a scandalous case of libel. 1962 B. Rathbone vii. 107 My lord, Mr. Miller brought me from London to play in this play. 2014 (Nexis) 17 Nov. My Lord, I did not say those words. I would never call a policeman a pleb. 1621 Jrnl. 15 Mar. in (1935) II. (modernized text) 224 They took the money of him and carried it in to my Lord Chancellor and came out to him again saying that my Lord was thankful. 1642 R. Quatermayne 37 Then said I to my Lord Major, my Lord,..my presence shall not be hurtfull to you. 1703 2 These, My Lord, are our present Circumstances. 1777 H. Arnot 8 My Lord, you are a Lawyer, and understand the doctrine of compensation. 1832 26 My Lord, I plead the cause of this ignorant and degraded, and wicked portion of the community. 1893 A. Gordon viii. 191 The minister..turned to the loft in which ‘my Lord’ was seated, and made a low bow. 2008 (Nexis) 6 Dec. a7 ‘My Lord!’ I exclaimed [to Mayor Terry Lake], ‘if a councillor can't learn the ropes in a year, why would we want him around.’ b. my Lords. a1422 T. Hoccleve Balades to Henry V & Knights Garter l. 45 in (1970) i. 42 Our Cristen kyng..And yee, my lordes..shul qwenche al this nusance [sc. heresy], And this land sette in hy prosperitee. 1425 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1425 §12. m. 4 Ye yaf in commaundement to my lordes..to abstene hem both from sittyng in þis hie court of parlement. a1555 N. Ridley in M. Coverdale (1564) 101 My Lordes, if in times past ye haue bene contented to hear me sometimes in matters of relygion. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. viii. 17 My Lords, We were fore-warned of your comming. View more context for this quotation 1727 A. Pope et al. Περι Βαθους: Art of Sinking 87 in J. Swift et al. Separate Divisions for the two Houses of Parliament, my Lords the Judges, [etc.]. 1782 ‘P. Pindar’ i. 5 That easy..thing My Lords the Bishops ride—yclep'd a Sack. 1827 23 June 272/1 To conclude, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, you will perceive, in thus attempting to expose corruption, I have undertaken an arduous task. 1865 C. Dickens II. iii. viii. 65 Yes, verily, my lords and gentlemen..so you must. 1956 R. Galton & A. Simpson (1987) 63 My lords, ladies and gentlemen, and now we will send another thirty-six lions in for Mad Jack to tear to pieces. 1997 14 Dec. 14/1 But the cost..should really be borne by My Lords, the Queen's crazy judges. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 128 My lordis of chalker, pleis ȝow to heir My coumpt. 1571 Bp. J. Ross Let. 6 Nov. in W. Murdin (1759) 52 That Pointt moved to me be my Lordis of Counsell this Day, off the Proceidingis betuix the Quene my Mistresse and the Duke of Norfolk. 1769 Jan. 53/1 A written message from the Lords of the Treasury..was read, and is as follows: ‘My lords can see no reason to alter their former opinion.’ 1867 Ld. Derby & B. Disraeli Minute 10 May in Ld. Bridges (1964) 233 My Lords are of opinion that the office should now be given a more substantive character than that of Assistant Secretary. 1872 C. R. Row vi. 94 Admiral Vernon..speedily got himself into hot water with ‘my lords’ at Whitehall. 1906 R. McKenna Let. 6 Dec. in Navy Dockyard Expense Accts. 1906–7 (1908) in (H.C. 88) LXV. 163 My Lords note that the net result..will be a reduction of 44,000l. on the deficit of 247,000l..., sanctioned by the Treasury letter of 15 August last. 11. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > peer or lord of parliament > collectively society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > House of Lords 1394–5 in R. R. Sharpe (1907) H. 420 (MED) And our lige lord, it has ben declared to alle your lordes spirituels and temporals in the same parlement the pouert and the nounpoaire of your pouere comunes of your Roiaume. 1451 Petition in (2004) II. 529 To make requisicion..to the lordes espirituallx and temporelx in this present parlement assembled. 1569 R. Grafton II. 349 The Lordes of the vpper house, and the common house assembled together. 1655 T. Fuller ix. 189 The House of Commons presented to the Lords Spirituall and Temporall a Petition. 1675 A. Marvell Let. 23 Oct. in (1971) II. 167 To desire the Lords concurrence herein. 1751 H. Walpole (1846) II. 388 In the Lords there were but 12 to 106, and the former the most inconsiderable men in that House. 1765 W. Blackstone I. 50 The legislature of the kingdom is entrusted to three distinct powers, entirely independent of each other; first, the king; secondly, the lords spiritual and temporal..; and, thirdly, the house of commons. 1812 T. Moore ii. 47 Quite upturning branch and root Lords, Commons, and Burdétt to boot. 1846 in C. C. F. Greville (1938) V. 336 He got the House of Commons to sit on Saturday (very unusual), in order to send the Bill up to the Lords on Monday. 1897 ‘Ouida’ iv. 49 Don't suppose I shall ever live to get into the Lords. 1959 I. Jennings (ed. 5) iv. 138 The Queen's feudal court, afforced by all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal. 2012 8 Aug. 17/1 Nowhere in the Coalition Agreement is reform of the Lords tied to the boundary review. b. In House of Lords. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > House of Lords 1548 f. clxxxixv Whiche bill the nexte day was wholy agreed to in the lordes house. 1641 (title) The kings maiesties speech in the House of Lords in parliament. 1664 P. Du Moulin ii. 64 In the height of the late Tyrannie, two heads of the Gun-powder Traytors that were set up upon the House of Lords, were taken down. a1687 W. Petty (1691) 35 [They] may..be call'd by Writ into the Lords House of England. 1701 R. Cocks Diary 26 May in D. A. Hayton (1996) 172 They think fit to acquaint the commons with the follo[w]ing resolutions of the house of Lords. 1771 O. Goldsmith IV. xxxviii. 47 This vote readily passed the house of commons; but it met with some opposition in the house of lords. 1818 W. Cruise (ed. 2) V. 332 This case having been heard in the House of Lords, the Judges were directed to give their opinions. 1842 Mar. 77/1 His Lordship proposed that the Crown should have the power of summoning the House of Lords to sit in the recess of Parliament for judicial business only. 1876 F. Martin v. 76 This very innocent piece of information about the doings of the House of Lords was..not relished in high quarters. 1911 Feb. 224 If a breath from Mr. Lloyd George can blow away the House of Lords, why should the Church of England, which he hates as much, stand? 1970 7 Aug. 10/2 As long as the House of Lords exists it ought to contain as much talent as can be persuaded to go there. 2011 N. Kochan & R. Goodyear iii. 67 The Bribery Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords in November 2009. the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] > urinal 1961 E. Partridge (ed. 5) II. 1139/1 House of Lords, the, a urinal: Glasgow schoolboys' [slang]. 1967 21 Dec. 802/2 In between you have the Business Man Jocular: ‘I say, where's the geography, old son?’ or ‘When you need the House of Lords, it's through there.’ 1969 J. Alexander i. 46 Half way up the stairs there was a lavatory... ‘The House of Lords,’ said Jake. 1974 F. Muir & D. Norden 33 Ah—if anyone needs the House of Lords it's at the end. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > other national governing or legislative bodies > [noun] > in ancient world > in ancient Rome > member of 1571 T. Fortescue tr. P. Mexia ii. ii. f. 54v These nouelties then muche troubled Tiberius, whiche without staie, communicated them to his Lordes of the Senate. 1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus 320 The knights, and gentlemen of Rome separated themselues from the Lords. 1723 R. Blackmore iv. 119 The august assembled Lords of Rome Acquitted Princes or pronounc'd their Doom. 1910 W. S. Davis iv. 155 Much public beneficence there was..; but hardly on the princely scale of the lords of the Senate. society > authority > office > holder of office > high officials of state > [noun] > lord or first lord society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > government minister > [noun] > minister in British government > of specific department society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > naval officials > [noun] > Lord of Admiralty 1398 in J. Slater (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 38 The withhaldars sal be constreignyt be the said lordis [sc. the Scottish and English commissaries] to restore the ravnson. 1477 in C. Innes (1856) I. 201 It is counsalit ws be the lordis off our counsale that [etc.]. 1570 J. Foxe (rev. ed.) II. 2146/1 A supplication should be made to the lord Commissioners, in the name of the whole vniversitie. c1570 J. Leslie (1830) 136 The lordis of the counsall maid thame to be aggryit thaireftir. 1642 C. Vernon 54 Some of the Auditors of the Revenue having of late moved and pressed the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. ?1648 2 The Lords Commissioners of the Great Seale shall aswell award under the same Seale a Writ of Certiorari. 1653 8 A business.., decided by the then Lords Commissioners for Forraign Plantations, against the sayd Capt. Cleyborn. 1678 in W. G. Scott-Moncrieff (1905) II. 332 The Lords Commissioners of Justitiary..remitts the samen [article of the dittay] to the knowledge of an assise. 1718 in G. Lamoine (1992) 90 Sir James Mountague, Knight, One of the Lords Commissioners of the Great-Seal. 1739 G. Murray (1822) 24 He was made one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and soon after one of the Lords of the Treasury. 1806 W. Cruise VI. 136 The Lords Commissioners in Barnes v. Crowe appeared to have held that [etc.]... Lord Commissioner Eyre stated the particular circumstances. 1840 Jan. 114 The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have issued a memorandum to the fleet. 1884 S. Dowell II. ii. iv. 116 George Grenville as a junior lord of the admiralty. 1959 J. M. Reid 110 They [sc. judges of Court of Session] are also Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, and may go on circuit to try criminal cases. 2003 12 May 25/2 There is far less disagreement between the first and second lords of the Treasury than reports would suggest. 1425 in (2007) 1425/3/3 Thai [sc. anent hospitalis] that are fundit be bischoppis or uthir lordis spirituale or temporal. 1426 in (2007) 1426/33 Thir ar the articulis..determynit be oure soverane lorde..ande certane lordis, prelatis..chosyn tharto of the hail consell of the thre estatis. 1483 in (2007) 1483/6/14 At the lordis, barouns and commissaris of borowis.., the quhilkis lordis and estatis, beand..avisit. 1515 Acta Dominorum Concilii 11 July in (1921) 18 160 That the lord Drummond refusit the xl dais of privelege that all lordis and barounis aucht to have. 1579 in (2007) 1579/10/4 The quhilk day, in presence of the lordis commissionaris of parliament [etc.]. 1640 (1860) 62 John Sempill menit him and the said burgh to the lords and comittee of the estait. 1660 31 Dec. The commissioners for the severall burghs..after them the barrons..next the lords in their robes. 1702 G. Ridpath v. 83 It will be a hard matter..to prevail with any of those Lords, Barons and Burgesses, that must agree to this Regulation. 1779 H. Arnot iv. 462 The Lords Temporal chose eight bishops. 1805 tr. in 67 662/1 The said lords prelates of the church, and temporal Lords, replege the said inhabitants of lands. 1890 G. Watson (ed. 7) 406/2 The ancient Parliament of Scotland consisted of the King and three Estates of the Kingdom... The three Estates are—the Lords temporal, the Lords spiritual, and the Commons. 1995 S. Clark 192 Though a clear distinction was made between lords and others who came to parliament, there was no ‘house of lords’ in Scotland. 14. society > leisure > social event > festive occasion > persons and characters > [noun] > presiding 1519 in A. J. Mill (1927) 141 To Alexander Ruderfurd and Willeam Turing lordis of Bonacord sex merkis to..help to thare abellement for honour of the gud tovne. ?a1556 Grey Friars Chron. anno 1551 in R. Howlett (1882) II. 235 The lorde of Crystmas of the kynges howse came thorrow London. 1587 A. Fleming et al. (new ed.) III. 1067/2 On mondaie the fourth of Januarie, the said lord of merie disports came by water to London. 1603 J. Stow (new ed.) 95 I haue seene a Quinten set vpon Cornehill.., where the attendantes on the Lords of merrie Disports haue runne. 1708 C. Morthland 23 In the Fourth and Last Year, the Magistrands before they rise, chooses fifteen from among themselves, whom they call Lords, and one of them is their President. 1806 R. Bloomfield 40 Many a Lord, Sam, I know that, Has begg'd as well as thee. 1878 June 431 The Lord of Inobedience, the Abbot, and their motley train appear never to have danced through the capital after. 1990 F. P. Barboza v. 106 A mile long parade of the votaries of King Momo, the Lord of the Carnival. the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > [noun] > cutting, reaping, or mowing > reaper or mower > leading reapers 1743 W. Ellis Oct. 141 To act as head Man in Mowing..for which Reason he is called Lord, or Chief of the Workmen. 1806 R. Bloomfield Advt. The man who..goes foremost through the harvest with the scythe or the sickle, is honoured with the title of Lord, and at the Horkey, or harvest-home feast, collects what he can. 1892 P. H. Emerson xv. 131 We go back to the blacksmith's to grind our scythes. All the gang was there, lord and all. 1941 H. J. Massingham ii. 53 A flight of sickle-men is just coming off the barley-field beyond the yard for 'levenses, and the ‘Lord’ has gone ahead to pour cider. the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [noun] > hump back > person 1653 N. Hookes Miscellanea Poetica in 103 Thou i'th' mean while (it is an honourable word Amongst the Hunch-backs) shalt be call'd my Lord. 1699 B. E. Lord, a very crooked, deformed, or ill-shapen Person. 1751 T. Smollett I. xxxi. 240 His pupil..was..on account of his hump, distinguished by the title of my lord. 1826 C. Lamb in 16 623 That a deformed person is a lord. 1887 W. Besant I. iii. 86 He was, in appearance, short and bent, with rounded shoulders, and with a hump (which made the boys call him My Lord). 1792 G. Cartwright I. Gloss. p. xii Lady, a water-fowl of the duck genus, and the hen of the lord. 1870 5 301 The male of this species, which is called a ‘lord’ in Newfoundland, is decidedly the handsomest little duck inhabiting these cold regions. 1901 G. B. Grinnell i. 191 Some of the names given for this duck..are..rock duck, lord for the male and lady for the female, and squealer. 1955 39 376 Harlequin Duck. Cock Lord (Maine. The male..); Lady Lord (Maine. This name is both logical in designating the female of a species often called simply ‘lord’, and illogical in implying that ‘lord’ can be feminine.); Lord (New England). B. int.the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 1146 (MED) Ha lord, hou sche is softe. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 298 (MED) O lord [L. o deus], whi is it so greet difference bitwixe a cirurgian & a phisician? a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif (1871) III. 358 Lord! in tyme of Jesus Crist..were men not bounden to shryve hem þus. 1548 f. clxj Lorde how glad the poore people were of this Pardone. ?1577 Misogonus in R. W. Bond (1911) 238 O Leard Leard wone woude take him for a foole by his gowne & his capp. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. i. 50 O Lord I must laugh. View more context for this quotation 1693 W. Congreve ii. ii. 15 Lard, Cousin, you talk odly. 1740 S. Richardson II. 225 Laud, madam,..I wonder you so much disturb yourself. 1792 J. Wolcot Odes to Great Duke vii, in (1792) III. 10 Lord! what a buying, reading, what a racket! 1811 J. Austen II. viii. 140 Lord! how Charlotte and I did stuff the only time we were there! View more context for this quotation 1842 F. Marryat II. ii. 259 Lord, what a state I shall be in till I know what has taken place. 1914 G. B. Shaw Fanny's Last Play iii, in 220 Lord, how I do run on! Dont mind me, Mrs. Gilbey. 1993 P. Ackroyd (1994) vi. 231 He gave me a cordial mixed with wheatmeal and the seeds of melon. He called it a fomentation, and lord! it was bitter enough. Phrases P1. Phrases relating to a master, leader, proprietor, etc. a. lord and master.a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xi. 476 In þese twelue housis..þe seuen planetis ben lordis and maistris [L. dominantur]. a1400 (?a1325) (Harl.) (1875) l. 1082 Wo me..Me shameþ to loke, For þat y my swete lorde and mayster forsoke. a1450 ( Libel Eng. Policy (Laud) in T. Wright (1861) II. 201 Henry the fifte..wolde have be Lorde and master aboute the rounde see. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) li. 172 Of late I haue lost my goode lorde and mayster. 1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Pref. sig. bjv Stoope Englande stoope, and learne to knowe thy lorde and master. 1611 S. Veghelman tr. J. de L'Espine 195 Hee is Lord and Master..; Hee is your Creator. 1694 C. Norwood 111 They were the lords and masters over them. 1703 G. Farquhar iv. 45 Here I am Lord and Master without your Resignation. a1789 W. Adams (1790) xv. 311 To tread in the steps of our Lord and Master; to resemble even God himself. 1846 4 July 218/2 A cookie who was lord and master of the culinary department. 1887 ‘Zamiel’ 27 The injustice, meanness, toadyism and corruption of our Lords and Masters. 1975 P. Harcourt ii. 121 ‘You're a Counsellor, a senior official..what advice would you give?’..‘I can't see our lords and masters asking me.’ 2010 (Nexis) 2 Aug. Media coverage..was based on a cosy consensus that our lords and masters knew best. 1665 R. Verney Let. 5 June in M. M. Verney (1899) IV. iv. 122 Peg Gardner saw your Lord and Master with some gentlemen in Parke. 1740 S. Richardson II. 251 Your Lord and Master came in very moody. 1797 ‘Gabrielli’ III. xiv. 261 This had been one of her Lord and master's rambling days. 1816 J. Austen III. xvi. 300 I am waiting for my View more context for this quotation 1864 C. M. Yonge I. vii. 126 She was not going to be one of the womankind sitting up in a row till their lords and masters should be pleased to want them! 1922 J. Joyce iii. xvi. [Eumaeus] 609 The erring fair one begging forgiveness of her lord and master. 1961 A. Wilson viii. 343 And as to your wife,..exercise the droit de seigneur. You're her lord and master. 2015 (Nexis) 28 Jan. Apparently her new lord and master does not appreciate how much it costs to keep her looking this good. b. 1408 in J. Slater (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 68 That the lord of the Ilys haffis tak of the Erll of Mureff. 1513 in R. K. Hannay (1932) 7 Forsamekle as Lauchlane McClane of Dowald..has..maid ane lord of the Iles tending to usurp the kingis properte in tha partis. 1667 in J. R. N. Macphail (1916) II. 18 The heretrix married the Lord of the Isles, for quhilk he acclamed the Earldome. 1767 W. Guthrie II. 391 The capital forts in the highlands were in the hands of Baliol's followers, particularly the lord of the Isles. 1858 W. E. Gladstone I. 460 The Macdonalds, Lords of the Isles..who claimed to be Kings as well as Chieftains. 1898 M. Belloc Lowndes iv. 47 The titles under which the Prince was sworn being those of Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester, Earl of Carrick, Earl of Rothesay, and Lord of the Isles. 1982 P. Somerset Fry & F. Somerset Fry viii. 116 Like most of his predecessors, James had confrontations with the Highland chiefs, especially the lord of the Isles. 2001 (Nexis) 13 June (Features section) 14 The royal train carrying the Duke of Rothesay, Lord of the Isles, who is sometimes known as Prince Charles, to the first of his Scottish engagements. 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) viii. l. 27 Als fre I am in this regioun to ryng Lord off myn awne, as enir was prince or king. a1500 Ratis Raving (Cambr. Kk.1.5) l. 1379 in R. Girvan (1939) 39 Ay the eldar that þow bee, The mar the vyce [sc. covetousness] encouerys the, and makis the bot a kepar knawin quhar þow suld lord be of thin awin. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aii*v To mak you lord of your avne me think it grete skill. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 128 To mak me lord of my awin. d. lord of the manor. society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > one who has tenure > [noun] > (feudal) superior 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton (new ed.) ii. f. xiiv If..a straunger brynge a precipe quod reddat agaynst the lorde of the manour [Fr. le seignior del manor] and recoueryth the manour agaynst hym..the tenaunte shall ones agayne do homage. 1593 J. Adames sig. E3v Note that all the vacant and waste land within the Manour, is to the Lord of the Manour. 1607 J. Norden iii. 110 Hath the Lord of the Mannor any peculiar fishing within any river. 1687 (Royal Soc.) 16 221 Upon the petition of Messire Robert,..Lord of the Mannour of the upper and lower Cocherel, wee have this day come to the sayd town of Cocherel. 1718 W. Wood 309 It is most strange and unaccountable Policy in many Lords of Mannors. 1765 W. Blackstone I. xii. 387 All lords of manors, or barons, that held of the king in capite, had seats in the great council. 1830 Jan. 96/1 The lord of the manor has no more right than the pauper of the poor-house, to the land which he undoubtedly does own. 1858 W. Arnot 2nd Ser. xxix. 237 At that moment the lord of the manor passed by. 1933 27 Dec. 8/3 They were going to shoot at Hawridge Court, near Chesham, where Matthews was Lord of the Manor. 1955 24 Nov. 903/1 He acted the Lord of the Manor..but most emphatically never lost the common touch. 1973 19 Apr. 21/3 She's mentally and physically exhausted, and then you come home and play lord of the manor. 1998 26 Sept. e15/1 The lord of the manor's right to hold fairs on the land..may conflict with [the interests]..of a would-be buyer. 2008 U. McGovern (2009) 44 Water mills..were originally in the hands of either the Lord of the Manor or the local monastery. society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > sixpence 1839 H. Brandon Dict. Flash or Cant Lang. in W. A. Miles 163/2 Lord of the manor, sixpence. 1882 5/2 Lord of the Manor, sixpence. 1933 16 Nov. 782/1 Twenty years ago you might hear a sixpence described as a ‘Lord’ meaning ‘Lord of the Manor’; that is, a tanner. 1972 17 8/3 Lord of the Manor, tanner (old sixpence). 1570 T. Blundeville tr. F. Furio Ceriol sig. L.1 For hee..is Lorde of himselfe, and therfore the more able to prouide a ready remedy for a soden mischiefe [no corresponding sentence in the Italian original]. 1674 W. Charleton 93 That in truth renders us in some sort like unto God Almighty, by making us Lords of ourselves. 1727 W. Somervile 146 I live, and reign, Lord of myself. 1832 5 May 185/3 He was now lord of himself, and master of an ample fortune. 1850 W. Wordsworth xi. 305 Lord of himself, in undisturbed delight—A noble aspiration! 1916 K. Tynan xiv. 169 What was coming to her in this old country that she..who had been ‘Lord of herself’ since she was in the nursery..should be learning shyness and self-consciousness? 2004 T. Guest (2005) vi. 86 We were each given three names. The first was always the same: ‘Swami’—meaning ‘Lord of Oneself’—for the men. f. 1607 J. Cowell sig. Ss4/2 Lord in grosse..is he that is lord hauing noe maner, as the king in respect of his crown. 1652 W. Hughes tr. A. Fitzherbert 11 Lands holden..meerly of the King as of his Crown, who is a Lord in gros (because it is holden of him who is always King). g. the world > people > person > man > [noun] > men collectively the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > one who is important > others 1649 W. Everard et al. 17 The Earth is the Lords, that is, Mans, who is Lord of the Creation. 1688 A. Behn 16 Those faithless Slaves, which Heaven first made to obey the Lords of the Creation. 1744 J. Hobart in (1824) II. 207 I almost loved woman for her sake, and thought..they might attain to a sagacity equal to that of the lords of the creation. 1797 A. M. Bennett II. x. 189 'Tis really a mighty silly thing for a lord of the creation..to take up his residence in a boarding house..where there are pretty women. 1849 27 May 9/3 The horses were being freshened up with hay and water, and coaxed into another super-quadrupedal effort on behalf of the lords of the creation. 1853 E. Clacy xvi. 255 The absence of so many of ‘the lords of creation’ in pursuit of what they value..more than all the women in the world—nuggets. 1902 17 May 628/1 We are going to be more than ever lords of creation, navigate the heavens as easily as we do the waters. 1961 W. M. Watt iii. 59 The influential merchants of Mecca..were not the lords of creation they thought they were. 2013 (Nexis) 16 Sept. 23 The swaggering Lords of Creation covered Vietnam peasants with Agent Orange. h. the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > histrionicus histrionicus (harlequin duck) 1766 J. Banks Diary 1 Sept. in A. M. Lysaght (1971) 139 The People here tell a remarkable Fact if it is a true one of a Kind of duck Cald here Lords & Ladies..who they say at times Pursue the Gulls whom they Persecute till they make them Dung which they catch with great dexterity before it reaches the water & immediately Leave off the Chace. 1770 G. Cartwright 29 July (1792) I. 20 I shot four eider ducks, and seven lords and ladies. 1836 E. Wix 162 I had a fine view of a patch fox in my walk, saw several seals, and some of those very beautiful birds, called by the people of Newfoundland ‘lords and ladies’. 1901 9 155/1 In the New England States and northward along the Atlantic coast it [sc. the Harlequin Duck] is frequently called the ‘Lord and Lady’, because of the white crescents and spots of its plumage and the proud bearing of the male. 1930 1 32/2 The Harlequin Duck..is known to trappers and prospectors in the far west as ‘Lord and Lady Duck’. 1988 July 17/1 This is the one sometimes known as the mountain duck or rock duck, or in pairs as the lord and lady. 2010 (Nexis) 20 Aug. In the pounding surf along the rocky coastline, ‘lords and ladies’ popped to the surface like so many cork bobbers. 1818 Jan. 173 The arrival of Dora, the daughter of this ‘lord of all he surveyed’. 1834 Feb. 255/1 Living at my Club at the rate of £3,000 a year.., fancying myself lord of all I survey. 1881 19 Feb. 125/1 Elsie would remain at Stanmere, lord of all she surveyed. 1922 H. W. Myers 298 If one may judge by the actions of the Western Mockingbird he feels that he is rightful lord of all he surveys. 1996 C. Higson iv. 52 There I sat, lord of all I surveyed. The king in his castle, the dog in his kennel. P2. Phrases relating to or invoking God. the world > time > reckoning of time > chronology > [noun] > period with own chronological system or era > particular year in Christian era OE Royal Charter: Cnut to Christ Church, Canterbury (Sawyer 959) in N. P. Brooks & S. E. Kelly (2013) 1095 Ðeos landboc wæs gewriten on ðan þusende & ðri & twentehte gære fram ures hlauordes hælendes Cristes akennednesse [L. anno ab incarnatione domini nostri Iesu Christi].] 1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith (1870) 89 In ye ȝere of houre louerde a Thousande yre hundred sixti and seuene. c1425 (1923) 34 (MED) He decessid and was put to his fadres the ȝere of oure Lorde mclxxiiij. 1463 in S. Tymms (1850) 19 The day and the yeer of oure lord of my departyng from this wourld. 1548 f. ccviijv This was in the yere of our lordes blessed incarnacion.M.v.C.lxx. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 268 (margin) King Achai dies the ȝeir..of our Lourd 819. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta iii. xi. 154 In the yeere of our Lord God, one thousand five hundred seaventy nine. 1625 S. Purchas II. x. iv. 1705 In the yeere of our Lord God 1567..their Citie was sacked by the foure Kings. 1688 H. Keepe 6 On St. Barnaby's Day, In the Year of our Lords Incarnation One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Five..I met with two Friends. 1729 J. Lewis & H. Thomas 32 Surnames began to be taken up in England, France and Scotland, about the Year of our Lord God One Thousand. 1774 F. Hopkinson (title) A pretty story written in the year of Our Lord 1774. 1838 S. Jefferson 186 The first introduction of Christianity into this island..did not take place till about the year of our Lord, 200. 1869 R. D. Blackmore I. v. 50 In or about the year of our Lord 1640..great estates in the north country were suddenly confiscated. 1966 W. Stechow 38 He settled down in Antwerp and there entered the painters' guild in the year of our Lord 1551. 2005 J. Weiner xxii. 184 The Upchurch Town Hall, according to the plaque..in front of the building, had been built in the Year of Our Lord 1984. b. In collocation with mercy. (a) Lord have mercy (on us) and variants. [Compare post-classical Latin Domine miserere mei Lord have mercy on me, Domine miserere nobis Lord have mercy on us (Vulgate), and also Hellenistic Greek Κύριε ἐλέησον Lord have mercy (see Kyrie eleison n.)] a1250 Lofsong Louerde in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 217 Milzfule louerd haue merci of me. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 101 (MED) Louerde Crist, þou red vs rede, And of vs þou hab mercie. a1500 ( Vision E. Leversedge in (1905) 9 27 (MED) Lord, have mercy vpon me, the moost wikid synner of all the world. 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 419 Write Lord haue mercie on vs, on those three. View more context for this quotation 1600 T. Nashe sig. H I am sick, I must dye. Lord haue mercy on vs. 1638 R. West To Pious Memory T. Randolph in T. Randolph sig. ***3 The Titles of their Satyrs fright some, more Then Lord have mercy writ upon a doore. 1665 (single sheet) The Red Crosse still is us'd, as it hath bin. To shew they Christians are that are within: And Lord have mercy on us on the Door, Puts thee in mind, to pray for them therefore. 1722 D. Defoe 194 He set the great Red Cross upon his Door with the words Lord Have Mercy Upon Us. ?1790 ii. 33 O Lord, have mercy upon me, and keep me from all such gentility say I. 1808 E. Sleath V. 159 There she died. Lord-a-mercy upon those that had a hand in such a business. 1857 8 Aug. 145/1 Some ass of a popular music manufacturer..made of the solemn: ‘Lord, have mercy upon us! Christ, have mercy upon us!’ a mere dance fit for a village festival. 1927 Dec. 513/1 The infected house was shut up with a large red cross and ‘Lord have mercy upon us’ painted on the door. 2002 J. McGahern (2003) 97 And poor Edmund is gone. He was buried yesterday. May the Lord have mercy. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] 1581 T. Lupton 293 The other with a starte, sayde Lorde haue mercie vppon me: wyth that Mawlden turned and sayd, what aylest thou Iohn? 1692 R. L'Estrange ccxlvi. 213 'Tis not a Bare Lord have Mercy upon us, that will help the Cart out of the Mire. ?1780 (ed. 5) 6 It was with much ado that I prevailed on my father and mother... Lord a mercy on us! 1855 ‘W. Brooke’ vi. 60 What! a lady drownded!..Lord-a-massy! 1888 J. Payn I. iii. 49 Lord a mercy, is that how she talks? 1918 G. Moore xlvii. 284 But lord amassy, what time is it? 1990 P. Matthiessen (1991) 205 O Lord-a-mercy—now why do some fool women do that, you suppose? the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of bowels or intestines > [noun] > obstruction or constriction 1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius 433/2 Ileus..the Illiake passion, or a paine and wringing in the small guts, which the homelier sort of Phisicians doe call, Lorde haue mercy vpon me. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. xx. xiii. 58 The torments of the small guts, commonly called the Iliake passion [Note] or, Domine miserere mei,..Lord have mercie upon me. a1836 R. Williams Medicine in (1845) VII. 554/2 Popular opinion, which has termed this disease ‘Lord have mercy upon us’, seems to consider it entirely beyond the powers of medicine. 2010 D. Mitchell (2011) i. 71 Death by intussusception, or..‘shitting out your own intestines’... Its Latin name is miserere mei, translatable as ‘Lord have mercy’. the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] 1594 W. Shakespeare ii. iv. 81 O Lord blesse me, I pray God, for I am neuer able to deale with my maister. 1698 iii. 17 Lord bless me; it would be very hard indeed if the Husband did not know all. 1778 C. Reeve 78 Lord bless you, what a fine youth you be grown! 1784 H. Walpole 8 June (1858) VIII. 480 Mr. Conway wonders why I do not talk of Voltaire's ‘Memoirs’. Lord bless me! I saw it two months ago. 1832 F. A. Butler 31 Aug. (1835) I. 41 Lord bless us! what foul nonsense people do talk. 1870 C. Dickens ix. 62 ‘Lord bless me!’ cried Mr. Grewgious. ‘Thank you, my dear!’ 1941 Feb. 3/1 ‘Lord, bless us,’ they said; ‘we look so old and wrinkled!’ 2009 (Nexis) 10 Aug. ‘The first day of school, Lord bless me,’ she said. ‘I'm excited, but very nervous.’ 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 6 By the Lord this Loue is as madd as Aiax, it kills Sheepe. View more context for this quotation a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Four Plays in One in (1647) sig. Ffffffff3v By the Lord, sweet Lord, and By my soul..nothing could stave him off. 1766 W. Kenrick iii. ii. 34 I will phlebotomize ye all with my rapier, by the Lord, if you offer to draw a lancet on him. 1825 ‘E. Hardcastle’ II. vi. 82 ‘This I suppose is the last act of the final scene of annus mirabilis—the glorious sixteen hundred and sixty.’ ‘By the Lord,..it looks like it.’ 1978 J. B. Keane Lett. of Irish Minister of State in (1996) 364 You were right to go independent. You may not get in but by the Lord God we'll go down fighting. e. (the) Lord knows. Cf. God knows at god n. and int. Phrases 1d(b).the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > that which is unknown > [phrase] > expressing lack of knowledge 1614 T. Freeman i. lviii. sig. D2 You must come home, and liue the Lord knowes how. 1648 No. 8 45 Another great Victory at Saint Edes between some body, but the Lord knows who; it seems they were Loyallists, and Round-heads. 1726 J. Swift 36 She was at Lord knows what Expence, To form a Nymph of Wit and Sense. 1727 J. Swift Stella's Birth-day: 1722 in J. Swift et al. iii. 155 It cost me Lord knows how much Time To shape it into Sense and Rhyme. 1751 T. Smollett I. xxxiii. 254 What became of him afterwards, Lord in heaven knows. 1830 T. P. Thompson in Apr. 421 Meetings to be called by the Lord Lieutenant,..and the Lord knows who. 1846 C. G. F. Gore I. 74 People comprised under the comprehensive designation of ‘the Lord knows who’. 1905 Jan. 281/1 She's been doctorin' Lord knows how long fer that itchin' exzema. 1952 K. Vonnegut Any Reasonable Offer in 19 Jan. 46/4 ‘When the hell,’ he said, ‘are those Peckham people going to come to a boil?’ ‘Lord knows,’ I said. ‘There's no way I can get in touch with them.’ 1979 Feb. 14/2 Lord knows who will win the European Mountain Championship. 2012 22 Feb. (G2 section) 22/2 Contemporary dredgers must run the gamut of pollution and lord knows what else. 1856 S. F. Bateman i. iii. 17 Lord knows, honey child, I don't blame you to want to git shut of dis hea home, for dey done plague you to deff! 1896 J. C. Harris 169 Lord knows my heart jest natchully yearns arter that gal. 1934 C. P. Snow iv. iii. 392 I've thought about lots of other jobs... But I've never changed. And, Lord knows, I'm not an over steady man. 1944 G. Heyer i. 7 Fact of the matter is, Bella, I've never been able to bring myself up to scratch before, though the lord knows I've tried! 1992 M. Warner in M. Bradbury & J. Cooke 66 I don't want to waste time wittering, though the Lord knows I still have to do a heck of a lot of it. 1645 E. Reynolds 43 For the Lords sake let us lay it to heart. 1692 ‘J. Curate’ ii. 90 In the Lord's Name I give them a doom of black and unmixed pure Wrath. 1735 tr. A. R. Le Sage IV. 116 Help, Help, for the Lord's sake! 1763 G. A. Stevens 143 Go to him, in the Lord's name; but never let me hear any more. 1870 C. Larsen tr. B. Björnson Railroad & Churchyard in tr. M. Goldschmidt 97 But Lars! Lars! What in the Lord's name ails you? 1886 6 Feb. 3/8 Hearing Mrs McGill screaming for some time and crying out ‘Murder; for the Lord God's sake don't kill me.’ 1895 I. Maclaren iv. iii. 149 Lord's sake, it's maist provokin' that if a body hes a bit whup o'illness in Drumtochty, their freends tak tae propheseein' deith. 1919 S. W. McClave 267 For the Lord's sakes hurry up, we'd could a been a mile on our way by this time. 1977 H. Steinhauer tr. H. von Kleist in 74 The chamberlain did not know what in the Lord's name he was to do with horses that the swineherd of Hainichen had sold to the knacker. 1984 L. L. Miller 136 For Lord's sake, did he think she had a lover lurking on the property. 2011 (Nexis) 12 Nov. (Mag.) 71 For the Lord's sake, Coren, do something with your life! the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > religious oaths (referring to God) > miscellaneous 1895 ‘G. Mortimer’ xii. 159 Lord lumme, I could place that 'oss if I was in the old country, where I was reared. 1903 J. London i. 8 Lord lumme, but it'll be the last I see af you if yer don't py me. 1932 H. A. Manhood 192 Lord lumme, ain't you enthusiastic. 1997 D. Stone 57 Lord lumme, guvnor, all this high talk of metatemporal engineering..right goes over my head. P3. Phrases relating to the lifestyle of a nobleman. the mind > language > malediction > [verb (intransitive)] > swear or use profanity 1531 T. Elyot i. xxvi. sig. Mvi For they wyll say he that swereth depe, swereth like a lorde. 1615 (single sheet) My Siluer-hatched Sword, Made me sweare like a Lord. 1742 Oct. 475/2 Grant then that I do swear like a Lord, and that I outswear a Lord. 1785 J. O'Keeffe iii. 44 You strut about like a lord,..and drink like a lord, and swear like a lord, ay and—here's your bill. 1846 11 94 He drinks all night, sleeps all day, and swears like a lord. 1863 1 133 Gentleman Briggs forgot his manners, and swore like a lord. 1918 G. V. McFadden xxvii. 273 He certainly was in a rage that day, and went off swearing like a lord. 1932 26 Nov. 4/4 I've seen him ride his pony half into Mr. Hubbard's shop and swear like a lord at the old gentleman. the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > luxuriate [verb (intransitive)] > live luxuriously 1532 G. Hervet tr. Xenophon f. 10 The whiche..haue made them selfes ryche men, and haue gotten so great substance, that they liue lyke lordes? 1550 R. Crowley sig. Eiiiv To lyue lyke a Lorde and make iolye chere. 1606 T. Whetenhall 41 Augustine..condemneth the Lordship of Bishops, yet he himselfe lived like a Lord. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius iii. 130 He might have lived like a Lord all the rest of his dayes. 1757 ix. 121 What should you think, Nanny, said I, of seeing me live like a Lord in the World? 1780 ‘N. Ward Jr.’ 76 As if my income could afford Th'expence of living like a Lord. 1888 5 Oct. 5/1 If hops are pretty good..an average hopper can live like a lord. 1892 W. Harcourt Speech in 21 Apr. 10/3 The Chancellor of the Exchequer ‘lives like a lord’, which I understand to mean spending a great deal more than he possesses. 1958 A. Sillitoe 35 Living like lords in a boarding house. 2013 (Nexis) 16 June 44 Rental properties where you can live like a Lord for the weekend. the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink deeply or copiously a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley (1653) iv. sig. F4 Flowre bancks or Mosse to be thy bourd, Water thy Wine. San. And drinke like a Lord. 1785 J. O'Keeffe iii. 44 You strut about like a lord,..and drink like a lord, and swear like a lord, ay and—here's your bill. 1880 H. A. Duff I. ii. 35 He himself was the scamp still, spending his money like a prince, drinking like a lord. 1918 A. Safroni-Middleton xi. 106 The midshipman..drank like a lord and sang The Song of the Thrush. 2014 D. Martinez xviii. 134 I drank like a working man, five days a week... I drank like a lord. the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [adjective] > drunk > completely or very drunk 1652 No. 21. 287 The Hollander were as merry as Lords. 1659 J. Evelyn 53 The Gentlemen are most of them very intemperate, yet the Proverb goes, As drunk as a Lord. 1681 8 Mar. 2/2 They were as drunk as Lords with bottle Air. 1770 Dec. 560 As drunk as a Lord. 1844 W. M. Thackeray Barry Lyndon ii. ii, in Nov. 591/2 She ran screaming through the galleries, and I, as tipsy as a lord, came staggering after. 1927 H. T. Lowe-Porter tr. T. Mann (London ed.) I. v. 304 He was quite generally known to be very far gone, drunk as a lord and not caring who knew it. 2012 (Nexis) 21 Mar. 22 The other night, I rolled home, drunk as a lord. 1691 R. Ames 6 They are Treated all like Lords, With choicest Foods the Shire affords. 1794 27 Feb. Governments treat their Creditors like a Lord, whilst free States are obliged to observe the exactitude of a Tradesman. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage I. ii. vii. 248 The landlord..said..; we will treat you like a lord. 1871 ‘O. Optic’ xiv. 169 I believe you have a soft place in your head, Wolf. Joe Poole says you treated him like a lord. 1910 15 Sept. 8/5 They treated us like lords, and we shall never forget the kindness shown to us. 1987 28 Feb. The movie business..treats you like a lord. P4. In the names of various office holders. See also Compounds 2. a. 1258 Proclam. Henry III in (1868–9) 19 Henr' þurȝ godes fultume king on Engleneloande, Lhoauerd on Yrloand', [etc.]. 1422 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 298 (MED) Henry, by þe grace of god, kyng of England, heire and Regent of þe Rewme of France and lorde of Irlande. 1496 Oath of Allegiance in A. Conway (1932) 224 My soverainge lord henri the VIIth by the grace of god kinge of England & of ffraunce and lord of Irland. 1562 (new ed.) sig. Av Edward [III] by the grace of god kynge of Englande lord of Irland and Duke of Aquitaine. a1600 ( Rec. Bluemantle Pursuivant (Julius) in C. L. Kingsford (1913) 384 (MED) Charles..sent..the lord Gruthuse to..the King, Edward the iiijte by ye grace of God of Englond & of Fraunce & lorde of Ireland. 1643 R. Baker i. 100 King John..The first..that enlarged the Royall stile with Lord of Ireland. 1669 E. Chamberlayne 66 Henry the eighth..being..as absolute a Monarch over it when he was but Lord of Ireland, as when he was styled King. 1727 N. Tindal tr. P. Rapin de Thoyras IV. 452 It was decreed, that Henry of Lancaster, should be proclaimed King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland. 1780 W. Barron i. 16 The King..assumed..from the general submission of the people, the title of Lord of Ireland. 1830 H. Walter II. iv. 199 It was the duty of king Edward, as the acknowledged lord of Ireland, to have employed his talent for business..in reducing that distracted country to order. 1879 R. H. Warner ix. 186 The unhappy monarch is made to describe himself as..Lord of Ireland. 1959 J. T. Appleby xii. 238 As..Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Count of Anjou, and the rest, John felt it his duty to hold on to those lands. 2012 C. Maginn 1 In the year of Cecil's birth the Tudor kings of England were..lords of Ireland. b. 1428 in (2007) 1428/3/3 All bischoppis, abbotis, prioris, dukis, erlis, lordis of parliament and banrentis, the quhilkis the king wil be reservit and summonde to consaillis and to parliamentis be his special precep. 1500 (Pynson) sig. aivv The bisshoppis of his prouynce and greate abbottis lordes of the parlyament shulde..gyue their attendaunce upon hym. 1562–3 Act 5 Elizabeth I c. 5 §13 in (1963) IV. i. 424 Any person or persons being of the Degree of a Lorde of Parleament. 1628 E. Coke ii. x. f. 109 Parliament is the highest and most honourable and absolute Court of Justice of England consisting of the King, the Lords of Parliament, and the Commons. 1710 J. Spotiswood i. 3 Every Lord of Parliament, either Spiritual, as Arch Bishops and Bishops, or Temporal, as Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons. 1765 W. Blackstone I. ii. 168 Every peer..may make another lord of parliament his proxy, to vote for him in his absence. 1831 P. F. Tytler IV. ii. 306 Raising the Barons of Drummond, Crichton of Sanquhar, Hay, and Ruthven, to the dignity and privileges of lords of parliament. 1882 26 4 There is no reason for supposing that a Lord of Parliament was ever made in Scotland without a charter, or, after the union of the crowns, a patent. 1983 (Nexis) 6 Oct. No lord of Parliament may be imprisoned or restrained, except on a criminal charge, while Parliament is sitting. 2013 20 May 20 Lord Reay was also one of only two Lords of Parliament..to sit in the House of Lords this century. c. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > types of body or spec. bodies > [noun] > committee > committees of Scottish parliament 1485 in (2007) 1485/5/7 It is avisit and thocht spedefull be the lordis of the articulis that the fredom of halikirk be observit and kepit in tyme tocum. 1567 W. Painter II. f. 267 Master Aloisio being here vppon demaunded of the Lords of the articles. 1638 D. Calderwood sig. B2v It was presented and read, first before the Lords of the Articles, and after, before the whole Estates. a1650 (Edinb. Univ.) Apolecti, the lords of the articles, being 8 chosen out of each estate in Parliament, to prepare all purposes for voteing. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet (1724) I. 364 These [complaints] ought to be made first to the Lords of the Articles. 1827 H. Hallam II. xvii. 660 From the reign of James IV. the lords of articles are regularly named in the records of every parliament. a1862 H. T. Buckle (1869) III. ii. 71 The Lords of the Articles whose business it was to digest the measures to be brought before Parliament. 1962 1 41 Court control was insured by the revival of the Lords of the Articles to consider all acts or laws they might judge necessary to be passed. 1996 J. H. Burns viii. 290 Bills are considered first by selecti ex omnibus ordinibus—by the Lords of the Articles. d. 1617 in (2007) A1617/3/2 Ony vassaill, subvassaill, fewair, takisman of teyndis..justlie bundin to mak releiff to the prelate, lord of erectioun, patroun or other beneficeit man. 1699 in J. Lauder (1761) II. 42 That the lords of erection..are no more superiors of the kirk-lands. 1735 J. Ogilvie tr. R. Menteith i. 6 Settling the yearly Allowance of the Ministers..which he obtained of the Lords of Erection with great Difficulty. 1838 W. Bell at Teinds At the Reformation, the King..created the monasteries and priories into temporal lordships, the grantees to which were styled Lords of Erection, or Titulars of the Tithes. 1932 28 May 18/2 The erection of temporal Lordships in which lay Lords of Erection were invested in certain churchlands. 1989 68 76 His son..became a lord of erection and, eventually, earl of Lothian. e. 1698 5 Apr. Yesterday the Lords of Appeal sat again at the Cock-Pit, upon the Swedish ships that were taken as Prize. 1760 G. G. Beekman Let. 22 Sept. in (1956) I. 366 The Lords of Appeal in Prize causes, have been Pleased to Affirm the Sentence of Our Judge. 1876 Act Appellate Jurisdiction House of Lords in 11 lix. 381 For the purpose of aiding the House of Lords in the hearing Appointment and determination of appeals, Her Majesty may, at any time after the passing of this Act, by letters patent appoint two qualified persons to be Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. 1920 20 Dec. 4/6 He is more likely to close his career as a Lord of Appeal in this country. 1980 904/2 In the House of Lords, the judgments of the Lords of Appeal are called opinions or speeches. 2004 25 June 3/1 At present, appeal in such cases would be to a Commission of Review consisting of three Lords of Appeal..and two Lords Spiritual. f. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > lord-in-waiting 1717 H. Pelham Let. 3 Nov. in (1824) I. 18 The King forbad the lord of the bedchamber inviting Lord Townshend and Walpole to dine with him. 1755 Apr. 184/2 His majesty went to the house of peers, attended by..the ld of the bedchamber in waiting. 1821 July 392 His eldest son.., notwithstanding his jacobite connexions, was appointed Lord of the Bedchamber by the personal favour of George II. 1919 17 Mar. 6/6 Lord Jersey's appointment as Lord of the Bedchamber to the king. 2011 M. Peacock viii. 183 Frederick named him a Lord of the Bedchamber, and in 1749 Bute advised the Prince on his horticultural enterprise at Kew. g. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > lord-in-waiting 1719 28 Nov. 1455/1 His Majesty being told of it, by some of the Lords in waiting. 1860 W. G. Clark Let. 18 Sept. in F. Galton (1861) 45 Carts loaded with furniture passed out from time to time, the property, I suppose, of Goldsticks, and Chamberlains, and Lords-in-waiting. 1892 3 Dec. 644 What the functions of Lords-in-Waiting are is one of those mysteries of the Household. 1927 H. W. Root viii. 106 Barnum and the General were taken in hand by a lord in waiting and carefully informed as to the proper behaviour in the presence of royalty. 1971 4 Mar. 502/2 I never knew that Parliamentary Questions could be answered by a Lord-in-Waiting, who must be the most minor figure in the governmental firmament. 2011 11 July 29/3 Nicky's father was Lord in Waiting to both George V and George VI. h. 1728 J. Mitchell Ded. p. v To the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Lawderdale, Lord Lieutenant and High-Sheriff of Edinburghshire;..one of the Lords of Police. 1761 2 556 The right hon. lord Napier is appointed one of the lords of police in Scotland. 1832 I. 529 He became high sheriff of Berkshire [read Berwickshire], and a lord of police. 1882 J. Grant II. xxxii. 257/1 This residence was built by Alexander, sixth Earl of Galloway, one of the Lords of Police. 1903 31 840 In 1744 being appointed a Lord of Police in Scotland, he went to reside there. 1980 A. Murdoch v. 113 Garlies, however, soon had another grievance, claiming the office of First Lord of Police for his father. P5. Lord of the Flies. the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [noun] 1622 Bp. J. Hall VI. N.T. iii. 343 The Iewes well knew that the Gods of the heathen were no other then Deuils; Amongst whom..the Lord of Flies..was held the chiefe. 1671 M. D'Assigny in tr. P. Gautruche i. xv. 102 Baalzebub, the Lord of Flies, was the God of Ekron, a City of the Philistines. 1727 G. De Gols i. i. 19 He is call'd Lord of the Flies..because whenever they sacrific'd to him, the Swarms of Flies, which at that time molested the country, died. 1856 J. M. Daniell 110 We are far too near the buzzings of Beelzebub, the lord of the flies! 1894 A. Reid (1895) 284 I should be ready to make an alliance with ‘the lord of the flies’—Beelzebub himself. 1948 A. Huxley (1949) 90 The Lord of Flies, who is also the Blowfly in every individual heart. 2002 G. Duncan (2003) 1 I, Lucifer, Fallen Angel, Prince of Darkness, Bringer of Light, Ruler of Hell, Lord of the Flies..have decided—oo-la-la!—to tell all. society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > narrative or story > novel > [adjective] > specific novel 1969 I. Opie & P. Opie 13 Such accounts..have..influenced educational practice..leading us to believe that a Lord of the Flies mentality is inherent in the young. 1992 July 63/1 His aspect is pure Lord of the Flies, although you get the sneaking suspicion he might not've survived the island. 2007 Jan. 46/1 Should things ever get too Lord of the Flies, the Mali tribe..could just vote the whole project off the island. Compounds C1. Objective, instrumental, and appositive. 1828 Mar. 384/1 The rancorous dislike of high-birth, that is the glory and the shame of the lord-hating gang to which he yet appertains. 1681 J. Waite 2nd Dialogue Decalogue in 158 They that love God love his law:..there is no more Lord-lovers than law-lovers. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxi. v, in 69 O young lord-lover, what sighs are those, For one that will never be thine? 1904 Apr. 58/1 Spring was still the young lord lover of the earth. 1997 D. Boyarin 96 Several slaves honoured a deceased fellow slave by saying he was a real lord-lover (philokyrios). 1790 26 Feb. Lord-loving Edmund, and mob-stirring Dick, Of each other's politics grew mighty sick. 1856 R. W. Emerson viii. 144 The conservative, money-loving, lord-loving English are yet liberty-loving. 1991 J. A. Phelp in L. Murray (rev. ed.) 63 And a lord-loving cableman sent out a line To announce to Australia its visitor fine. 1709 M. Astell 166 One who is a free Thinker, and neither Priest-ridden nor Lord-ridden. 1849 R. Cobden Let. 4 Nov. in J. Morley (1881) II. ii. 54 We are a servile, aristocracy-loving, lord-ridden people. 1973 B. Murphy ii. 19 The lord-ridden countryside of contemporary England. 1868 R. Browning II. iv. 21 He likes to have lord-suitors lounge. C2. In the names of various officers and related senses. See also Phrases 4, Lord Justice n., Lord Chief Justice n., Lord Lieutenant n., and Lord Mayor n.society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > leader or commander > [noun] > naval officer > flag officer > admiral-in-chief 1489 T. Grigges in (2004) II. 458 The lawe cyuyll seyth thus: ‘If any fyssh ryall be founde on the se..that my lord Admyrall shall haue the haluendele.’ 1703 J. Drake 368 The Lord Admiral..having Landed his Men.., joined them to the Land Service, and they altogether marched towards Leith. 1883 G. T. Clark 43 Complaint was made of the piracies on the western coast, the blame of which was laid on Buckingham, then Lord Admiral. 2014 G. Wills 263 John Dudley..became lord admiral in 1543. 1466 in T. Thomson (1839) 5/1 The quhilk Robert..in presens of the lordis auditouris of complaintis deponit and made faith that [etc.]. 1488 in (2007) 1488/10/91 It sall be lefull to the lordis auditouris of causis and complantis, now chosin to sitt and decide all actiouns [etc.]. 1535 in (2007) 1535/44 To be sene and considerit be the lordis auditouris gif the samin be spendit for the commoune wele of the burgh. 1561 in C. Innes (1842) 449 Lordis auditouris of chikker we greitt yow weill. 1697 G. Dallas 133 Whose Receipt for the same..shall be..to the Lords Auditors for allowing the same in their Accounts, a sufficient Warrand. 1759 T. Miller 23 It was admitted by the Parties, and confirmed by the Lords Auditors of Exchequer. 1888 Nov. 241 In 1456..Malcolm of Moncreiff was a Lord Auditor. 1892 G. Barnett-Smith II. x. 125 There was also a committee called the Lords Auditors of Complaints, which gave remedy of law to those who might apply for it. 1973 A. F. Kinney 51 Lord Robert Stuart, fourth earl of Orkney and third lord Elphinstone..; lord auditor of the exchequer January 1581. 2000 J. W. Cairns in K. Reid & R. Zimmermann I. ii. 58 In 1458..a wider jurisdiction was granted, seemingly an authority to try all civil actions that did not concern fee and heritage (with which the Lords Auditors of Causes and Complaints in Parliament also could not deal). society > authority > office > holder of office > official of royal or great household > [noun] > chief > in royal household 1464 in W. H. Stevenson (1883) II. 379 (MED) Item, for ij galons of reede wyne giffen to the said Lorde Chaumberleyn on Missomer Evyn. 1685 No. 2056/4 His Majesty has been pleased to constitute the Right Honorable the Earl of Aylesbury Lord Chamberlain of his Houshold. 1791 E. Lodge II. 34 Having remained nearly twenty years on the borders, he..succeeded the Earl of Lincoln as Lord Chamberlain of the Household. 1864 J. Doran I. v. 121 The angry Lord Chamberlain..clapped the unoffending Thespian, for a couple of days, in the Gate House. 2000 16 Aug. The Queen yesterday appointed a commoner for the first time to the post of Lord Chamberlain. society > communication > record > written record > compiler or keeper of written records > [noun] > official in charge of records > of registers > Lord or Deputy Clerk Register 1555 in G. P. McNeill (1898) XVIII. 378 My lord clerk of register. Pleis rasaif this rentaile subscrivit be my lord comptrollar, and caus the samyn be registratt. 1794 in T. Thomson (1815) App. ii. 358 And there was produced to the Commissioners, by the Lord Clerk Register's Deputies for keeping the records, a public and solemn instrument. 1878 in 22 319 The Lord Clerk-Register shall continue to be one of the officers of state of Scotland..but, save as herein provided, no rights, authorities, privileges, or duties, shall be attached to the office. 2002 D. Wilkinson in E. Cruickshanks et al. III. 827/1 He was variously tipped as Scottish secretary of state, lord clerk register, lord chief baron of the exchequer, and..as lord advocate. 1538 in (1834) III. 39 The saide Lorde Deputie refused to accepte the same, whiche afterwarde, of his awne swynge..he receyved. 1749 in (1903) 9 51 A proclamation, declaring certain money coined in Ireland, was sent down by the Lord Deputy and Council to be passable. 1902 W. M. Dixon i. 4 By 1550..the more enlightened of the Lord Deputies had already given serious consideration to University projects. 2006 Feb. 3/3 When the great Earl of Kildare was Lord Deputy he made the cross of St. Patrick..the flag of Ireland. society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > [noun] > commander-in-chief 1577 R. Holinshed II. 1473/2 The Lord generall aduertized that the soldiours began to gather in companyes. 1598 R. Barret iv. 116 [The Colonel] ought to know how to performe the parts and office of a Lord high Generall. 1705 J. Michelborne ii. Epil. 189 Lord General of all Their Majesty's Forces. 1827 H. Hallam II. x. 146 The parliament having given him a commission as lord general of all the forces in the three kingdoms. 2003 (Nexis) 2 May (Features section) 25 Thomas, Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Lord General of the Parliament Army. 1549 10 Oct. (single sheet) The Erle of Warwicke, Lorde Greate Chamberlain. 1651 R. Douglas 43 The King aryseth from his Chaire, and is disrobed, by the Lord Great Chambelaine. 1727 8 The Master of the Jewel-Office presents the Great Golden Spurs to the Lord High Constable, who delivers them to the Lord Great Chamberlain. 1934 28 Nov. 918/1 Through the gorgeous throng moves the Lord Great Chamberlain, Lord Lewisham, in a scarlet cut-away coat heavy with decoration. 2014 (Nexis) 13 Sept. 24 David Rocksavage, 54, is the Lord Great Chamberlain of England. society > faith > church government > ecclesiastical discipline > court > presbyterian > [noun] > general assembly > representative of crown at 1661 2 The Lord High Commissioner accompanied with the Officers of State..went from the Palace of Holy rude-house to the Parliament House. 1870 144/1 The Established Church of Scotland..is governed by a General Assembly... It is presided over by a Moderator..and the Sovereign is represented by a Lord High Commissioner. 1995 L. Kennedy (1996) xix. 301 The opening session of the Assembly had always been free of controversy. The Lord High Commissioner would make some anodyne remarks. society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldry > herald > [noun] > King of Arms c1600 in A. M. Findlater (2008) 57 Lord Lyon King of Armes. Sir David Lindesay of the Mount Knicht. 1632 in (1860) 37 Ane warrand direct be Sir James Balfour lord Lyoun. 1728 in (1895) 15 The sealls of the royal burrows to be sent in to the lord lyon king att armes. 1773 17 June 382 Arms were painted upon it without the Lord Lyon's authority, to whom the power of regulating armorial bearings Scotland is delegated by the crown. 1867 J. G. Nichols IV. 82 It belongs to the functions of Lord Lyon to take cognizance, both ministerially and judicially, of all questions relating to coat armour in Scotland. 1948 20 Oct. The wearers of ermine in Scotland..were the Peers of the Realm, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Lord Lyon King of Arms [etc]. 2015 (Nexis) 20 Nov. 37 Ayr United have been told they face court action by the Lord Lyon, who is in charge of coats of arms, if they refuse to re-design their badge. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > lord > [noun] > lord of marches 1449 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Feb. 1449 §21. m. 6 The lordes marchiers..have the forfaitour therof. 1614 J. Selden ii. iii. 215 He means the ancient Lords Marchers of Wales, in the same place speaking of Welsh irruptions. 1863 21 Mar. 384/1 While the Lords Marchers did the border this good service, they..caused no little anxiety to their sovereigns. 1995 26 838 He tells of the winning of the Welsh lands by the Norman lords marcher. society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > council of state > [noun] > head of council of state 1539 c. 10. sig. C.ii The lord President, the lord Priuie seale.., and the kynges chiefe Secretory shall sytte and be placed in suche order and fascion as is aboue rehersed. 1562–3 Act 5 Elizabeth I c. 9 §7 in (1963) IV. i. 438 Nor to restrayne the Power or Aucthoritie of the Lorde Presydent and Councell of the Marches of Wales, or of the Lorde President and Councell in the Northe. 1701 R. Morden 138 Ludlow.., where the Court for the Marshes of Wales was kept, consisting in a Lord President, and other Officers. a1854 Ld. Cockburn (1856) ii. 128 As Lord President he was tricky. 1974 D. W. Sylvester vi. 134 Direct responsibility for the administration of the 1870 Education Act belonged to the Lord President and Vice-President of the Committee of Council for Education. society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > judge > [noun] > in Scotland 1711 J. Spotiswood p. iv The Lord Probationer Reports the Pleading of the Advocats. 1838 W. Bell 176 The form of trial [for new judges]..consists in the presentee, or Lord Probationer as he is called, hearing and reporting, and delivering an opinion on certain of the causes depending in court. 1980 D. M. Walker 671/2 The new judge, as Lord Probationer, heard several cases and reported his decision on them to the Court. 1574 in D. H. Fleming (1889) I. 396 The seat hes decernit first the play to be revisit be my lord rectour, minister, M. Johnne Rutherfurd provest of Sanct Saluatour College. 1633 W. Lithgow sig. Ev Lord Rector, Lord Archdeane, Lord how do yee? 1864 J. H. Burton I. v. 249 The catalogue of Lord Rectors soars far above respectability and appropriateness: it is brilliant. 2000 21 Feb. ii. 4/5 (caption) The rectorial address..on his installation as Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews. 1823 24 Mar. 93/1 The Courier of Tuesday falls foul of his Lord-Rectorship. 1825 16 July We do not..pretend to know exactly the degree of honour conferred by the Lord Rector-ship of a Scottish University. 1965 4 Nov. 6/4 Voting for the Lord Rectorship of Glasgow University is to be held next Monday. 2008 W. J. Moses in 138 Carnegie finally gained his long-awaited admission to the university world in 1902, when he was elected to the Lord Rectorship of St. Andrews University. society > communication > record > written record > compiler or keeper of written records > [noun] > official in charge of records > of registers > Lord or Deputy Clerk Register 1644 in (2007) 1644/6/6 They ordeane my lord register to be adjoyned to that article where it beires only thrie clerkes of parliament to be present. 1794 in T. Thomson (1815) App. ii. 355 One of the Lord Register's Deputies for Keeping the Records. 2003 M. Cosh xliv. 658 Thanks to the efforts of the Lord Register.., almost as much again—£30,000—had been voted by Parliament. society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > [noun] > collectively society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > kinds of bishop > [noun] > peers 1404 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1404 §20. m. 9 The kynges entent is, to assigne certeyn lordes spirituelle and certeyne lordes temporelle..for to put in execucione..alle the articles contened in the peticione of the comune. 1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ sig. B2 He..would gladly come to the honor to weare that which might make him a lord spirituall. 1834 July 34/2 The lords spiritual are buckling on their armor for a crusade in defence of their seats, and particularly their incomes. 2014 P. Johnson & R. M. Vanderbeck 23 The Lords Spiritual are a consistent presence in debates relating to homosexuality. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > peer or lord of parliament > lay peers 1399 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1399 Pleas §9. m. 2 The Kyng, to wyt..the trowthe of this matere, and to come to the best jugement..by the avys of his lordes temporels. 1602 W. Watson 94 The third Statute was there made concerning the Lords temporall and other of the Nobility & Gentry of this land. 1899 G. O. Trevelyan (ed. 2) I. ii. 89 About any individual Right Honourable gentleman or Lord Temporal the colonists knew little, and cared less. 1999 12 June 22/4 In contrast to the Lords Temporal, the Lords Spiritual have no marks of social distinction attached to them at all. 1599 Abp. G. Abbot 210 The Queene of England had on her side three: whereof one is called the Lord Warden of the East Marches, the other of the West Marches, the third, the Warden of the middle Marches. 1802 W. Hutton 50 In Queen Elizabeth's time, the salary of the Lord Warden was four hundred a year, out of which he paid two deputies. 1908 G. R. Lewis III. iv. 115 The lord warden, the vice-warden, and the stewards, declined to hold any courts until their respective jurisdictions should be settled. 2005 N. J. G. Pounds 167 Among the duties of the Lord Warden was to preside over the Court of Admiralty for the Cinque Ports. C3. Compounds with lord's or lords'. 1783 H. Cowper 73 The defendant obtained a rule to be carried to the next assizes, to be discharged on the Lord's act. 1838 3rd Ser. (Electronic ed.) 39 590 They had only to extend the Lords' Act to all descriptions of debts, and every purpose of these parts of the Bill would be answered. 1964 3 243 The debtor..might then, unless he could obtain the benefits of the ‘lord's act’, remain in prison for life, if his creditor wished to keep him there. society > faith > worship > prayer > kinds of prayer > [noun] > the Lord's Prayer 1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen sig. Mv And sua..papis prayers hes beyne haldine mair precious na our lord Iesus Christis prayer [Da. Vor Herris egen bøn].] 1538 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Sarcerius liv. f. ccv The lordes prayer, named the Pater noster [L. orationi Dominicae]. 1647 J. Hall i. 13 [She] makes one single farthing bear The Creed, Commandments and Lords-prayer. 1835 Advt. Many persons are in the habit of saying the Lord's Prayer without understanding it. 2014 2 May 35/4 She found herself repeating the Lord's Prayer, the only prayer she knew. society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > auditorium > [noun] > box or compartment 1592 P. Henslowe (1961) 13 Pd for sellinges my lords Rome..xiiijs. 1609 T. Dekker sig. E2v Let our Gallant..presently aduance himselfe vp to the Throne of the Stage. I meane not into the Lords roome, (which is now but the Stages Suburbs). 1911 9 15 The Lords' room..was abandoned by the gallants for a place upon the stage, or in the twelve-penny room next the stage. 2000 S. McEvoy iv. 88 A curtained-off lord's room cost sixpence. society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > [noun] society > faith > artefacts > division of building (general) > altar > [noun] > communion table > in reformed churches 1533 W. Tyndale f. 31v Let him..come forthe reuerently vnto the lordis table, the congregation nowe set rownd aboute it. 1535 1 Cor. x. C Ye can not be partakers of the Lordes table, and of the table off deuels. 1660 Bp. J. Taylor i. §1. 22 The holy Sacrament..is by the Spirit of God called..the Lord's Table. 1704 R. Nelson (ed. 2) ii. iv. 393 Upon the Penalty of being excluded from the Lord's Table. 1992 Sept. 21/2 Communion was received in the Calvinist tradition, all gathering around the Lord's Table. 2014 (Nexis) 5 July All are welcome to receive the Eucharist as it is the Lord's Table, freely offered to all. C4. Other compounds. 1862 C. Darwin Let. 25 Jan. in (1887) II. 385 Ablest men are continually raised to the peerage, and get crossed with the older Lord-breeds. society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > one who has tenure > [noun] > one who holds from a bishop 1707 G. Miège I. vii. 56 Lempster is noted for the Goodness of its Bread and Wool, and for the Title of a Baron it gives to the Lord Farmer. 1753 7 To the said Lord Farmer of the said Manor. 1800 in J. Martin (1801) 46 The Lord Farmer of the Manor of Bourton on the Hill aforesaid, and other proprietors of land..are decidedly against the Inclosure. 1851 in 59 The first intimation which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had received of Mr. Holt having become lessee or Lord Farmer of the manor. 1876 R. Frampton in T. Evans 161 The lord farmer there had been offering a small fine to renew with the two preceeding Bishops, who both refused. 1992 D. R. Hainsworth vii. 136 Snow was steward of the manor of Downton.., of which Ashe was lord farmer under the Bishop of Winchester. society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > one who has tenure > [noun] > (feudal) superior > holding of a superior lord 1656 W. Dugdale 609/2 Neverthelesse did Iohn de Whitely..write himself Dominus de Witley; but this was as Lord mesne under Montfort. 1825 H. Roscoe I. 38 The writ of mesne results from the obligation of the tenure between the tenant paravaile and the lord mesne. 1911 26 250 Two replevin cases illustrate curious points that may arise in the relations of lord mesne and tenant. the mind > emotion > pride > pomposity > [noun] > person 1858 12 June 8/2 Defendant called out, ‘Bill’; and when he (complainant) came down, he was addressed by the appellation of ‘Lord Muck’, and was also seized. 1937 in E. Partridge 539/1 Muck, Lord, a person unjustifiably, or in the speaker's opinion unjustifiably, important or esteemed. 1955 J. Thomas xxix. 287 Hey, Lord Muck! May we have the honour of introducing ourselves! 1998 P. Lively (1999) viii. 102 He needn't think he could come down here acting like Lord Muck. a1649 W. Drummond (1655) 135 If the evidences of any possessour of Ward-lands be not in all points formal.., the lands..shall return to the Lord Superiour. 1702 A. Birnie (new ed.) 143 I Alexander, Lord Superior of the Lands of &c...Ratifie, Approve, and..perpetually confirm the Charter. 1795 J. Sinclair XVI. 26 Musselburgh is an ancient ecclesiastical and incorporate burgh, holden of the Lord Superior of the Regality. 1825 W. Tennant iii. vi. 99 As thy King's lord superior, I repeal His sentence gone against thee. 1997 B. Webster in J. Cannon 77 Edward I..had insisted that all the claimants acknowledged his right to be lord superior of Scotland. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). lordv.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: lord n. Etymology: < lord n. Compare king v. society > authority > [verb (intransitive)] > have chief authority or lordship a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. l. 3267 (MED) On lordeth, and an other serveth. a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) cii. 19 in C. Horstmann (1896) II. 235 Lauerd in heuen graiþed sete his, And his rike til alle sal lauerd [L. dominabitur] in blis. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. l. 84 Þe more he..lordeth in londes þe lasse good he deleth. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan i. v. sig. Aiiijv Metridates whiche lorded vpon .xxiiij. contrees. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 54 (MED) A man may lightly knowe..whether wyt or no wyt be yn a kynge lordand. society > authority > rule or government > rule or govern [verb (transitive)] a1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 166 I was wroghte..By hym that lordeth yche intelligence. c1450 C. d'Orleans (1941) 113 (MED) Refresshe the castelle of my poore hert With sum lyvyng of ioy or of plesaunce..Not suffir him to lorde this fals coward. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cvi. 102 in (1998) II. 169 [God] Left them to be..Lorded by foes. 1691 J. Wilson i. ii. 6 Simple Merit Lords few Mens Horoscope. 1784 R. Cumberland ii. 18 I reach'd my native castle, found it lorded By the usurper Hildebrand. 1807 J. Barlow v. 197 Austria's titled hordes, with their own gore, Fat the fair fields they lorded long before. 1818 J. Keats ii. 95 The look Of his white palace..And all the revels he had lorded there. 1923 Jan. 18/1 Lamont Smith lorded the mound for the next three innings, and allowed but three scattered hits. 1999 J. C. Roy 375 Those who may have lorded the land in previous generations. †3. society > authority > office > appointment to office > appoint a person to an office [verb (transitive)] > appoint to position of command or authority a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xviii. §14. 71 Si mei non fuerunt dominati..If thai ware noght lordid of me. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 97 He being thus Lorded..did beleeue He was indeed the Duke. View more context for this quotation society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > raising to noble rank > ennoble [verb (transitive)] > invest with rank or title > make into a lord 1615 W. Martyn 90 Hee first Lorded him with the Baronie of Wallingford: and soone after, he created him Earle of Cornwall. 1643 G. Wither 69 Ev'ry one of those That hath for any services, beene Lorded. 1721 (ed. 2) 16 Thou shalt be told..Who gets an Estate in the Alley, and is afterward Knighted or Lorded. 1788 (London ed.) II. iv. xix. 237 Sir Cadwallader Pleadwell, you must know, has been lately Lorded. 1835 Nov. 700/1 As Pulteney was made Marquis of Bath, to end his great influence in the Commons; or as Sandys was lorded to get rid of him. 1889 F. J. Furnivall in 14 Dec. 1/3 It was with no little pleasure then that I found Lord Tennyson (before he was lorded) making me known..to Mr. Robert Browning. the mind > language > naming > give a name to [verb (transitive)] > address by name > specific 1633 W. Lithgow sig. Ev Lord Rector, Lord Archdeane, Lord how do yee? So also is Lord Lyon grauely Lorded. 1660 56 Before they merit the degree of Knighthood, they must be Lorded. 1715 tr. C. de Renneville 232 He would never answer any Man, nor even Princes, unless they Monsignor'd, or Lorded him. 1842 Jan. 23/2 On the other hand, had my father been a lord, I must have ‘lorded’ him on all occasions. 1872 Jan. 28 And all his followers lorded him as king. 4. To act in the supposed manner of a lord; to behave in an arrogant, disdainful, or dissipated manner; to rule tyrannically; to dominate. the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > be haughty or disdainful [verb (intransitive)] society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (intransitive)] > domineer society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (transitive)] > domineer over 1548 H. Latimer sig. B.iiii For they [sc. the Apostles] preached and lorded not. And nowe they lorde and preache not. 1595 E. Spenser Amoretti x, in sig. A6v She lordeth in licentious blisse Of her freewill. 1633 P. Fletcher Elisa 119 in Her..sister..Alicia, in whose face Love proudly lorded. 1671 J. Milton 266 They had by this..lorded over them whom now they serve. View more context for this quotation 1728 T. Breviter 78 Our Protestant Church..be not lorded over by the Tyranny of one universal Bishop. 1777 E. Burke Addr. to King Jan. in (1996) III. 281 Much less are we desirous of lording over our Brethren. 1826 14 236 The six thousand years that man has lorded over the creation. 1882 R. D. Blackmore II. xiii. 265 I am not one, to be lorded over, by a man no better than myself. 1955 30 Dec. 6/5 The actions of the imperialists and the colonialists in Asia, Africa, and everywhere they formerly lorded supreme. 2000 E. J. M. Rhoads i. 16 The Manchus..lorded over and indeed lived off the Han. the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > be haughty or disdainful [verb (intransitive)] society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (intransitive)] > domineer society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (transitive)] > domineer over 1563 J. Foxe 1202/1 Suche Byshoppes as minister not, but lorde it. 1579 E. Spenser July f. 28v They reigne and rulen ouer all, and lord it, as they list. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. vii. 200 I see them Lording it in London streets. View more context for this quotation 1657 T. Aylesbury vii. 145 Lording it over the Consciences of the people. a1704 T. Brown Oration in Praise Drunkenness in (1707) I. i. 55 She [sc. drunkenness] Lord's it over Poland, Sweden and Norway. a1716 R. South (1744) VIII. 168 Though reason and judgement would veil to Christ, yet the man does not, because his affections lord it. 1775 F. Burney Let. in (1990) II. 170 He disdains submitting to the Great, or Lording it over the little. 1819 W. Irving Rip Van Winkle in i. 59 The Kaatskill mountains..are seen..swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country. 1854 J. Tyndall in 192 We lord it over Matter, and in so doing have become better acquainted with the laws of Mind. 1900 Oct. 337 This barbarian..lorded it over many waters from the Canaries to Candia. 1933 H. Miller Let. 24 May in A. Nin & H. Miller (1989) 163 Forgive me, I'm not trying to lord it over you. 2005 11 Mar. 14/1 Lording it over them was one of the pleasures of my father's old age. 1679 35 G F. hath remembred the Affliction of Joseph, and doth not Lord himself over the Light of God in others. 1749 26 They endeavour to lord themselves over our Consciences. a1828 J. Gray (1829) ii. 47 The rich man..has no right to lord himself over his poorer neighbour, until a mutual agreement has taken place betwixt them. 1853 E. Burritt 202 We see the rich and the powerful lording themselves over God's heritage, till at length one assumes almost the office of God himself. 1902 30 June 7/6 It would not do for any man to lord himself over the consciences or the intellects of others. 1912 J. E. Staley i. 32 The proudest of all the lake-dwellers, lording themselves, as did their ancestors in the good old time long past. 1967 A. Sundel v. 55 Heady with success, the Aztecs began to lord themselves about. 1990 (Nexis) 27 Nov. (Business section) 37 I suspect he is quite fed up with the way Murdoch has lorded himself around. 2011 (Nexis) 9 Oct. (Sunday Review section) 4 It smacked of colonialism, patriarchy, bad white men lording themselves over voiceless minions. 1806 G. Pinckard III. vii. 74 The system which gives to an individual the power of lording his worst passions over a fellow being..admits of no defence. 1822 J. Macbeth 266 Other historians represent him [sc. Nimrod] to have lorded his power very tyrannically over his brethren in the plains of Shinar. 1895 E. M. Smith xi. 123 Timid, retiring girls, subjected to the insults of brutal men who lorded their power over them. 1905 Mar. 485 Bitter with the consciousness of growing years and barrenness, lording her seniority over her young and beautiful rivals. 1979 15 160 The image of primary teachers as high status persons, lording their education, white collar employment, and high social status over the children of working class and peasant families. 2009 T. Mandarich & S. S. Elrod 20 I loved the feeling of superiority I had when I lorded my strength and size over those two guys. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.int.eOEv.a1393 |