Lord
/lɔːrd/noun
A title of respect or authority, often used for a nobleman or deity.
Did you know?The term 'lord' originally meant 'keeper of the loaf', referring to someone who controlled food supplies, tying power to sustenance and survival.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*lauda
“To keep, to guard, implying protection and authority.”
Old English
OE
hlāford
“Master or lord, literally 'loaf-keeper', a figure who provides sustenance.”
Middle English
ME
lord
“Nobleman or master, emphasizing feudal authority and land ownership.”
14th Century
Middle English
lord
“Title of respect for a superior, extending to divine figures.”
Modern English
English
lord
“General term for someone in a position of authority, often with religious or political connotations.”