Lord

An interjection variously expressing astonishment, surprise, resignation.

Interjection

  1. An interjection variously expressing astonishment, surprise, resignation.
    • O Lord I must laugh. - c. 1595, William Shakespeare, The Comedie of Errors, published 1623, iii. i. 50:
    • Lord, lord, Carrados, the tragic monotony of your elderly professional nonentity! - 1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados:

Origin

See lord. In reference to the God of the Jewish Tanakh and Christian Bible, originally a translation (attested from the late Old English form hlāford) of the Vulgate Latin Dominus (“master of a house; lord”), translating the New Testament and the Septuagint's Ancient Greek ὁ κύριος or Κύριος (ó kýrios, "the supreme one; Lord, Kyrios"), both in reference to Hebrew אֲדֹנָי (ʾdny, "my lord; my Lord, Adonai") from אדון (ʾdwn, "lord, patron; Lord") + י- (-y, "my"), cognate with Phoenician 𐤀𐤃𐤍 (ʾdn, "lord; Lord, Adon"). Adonai appears in the Tanakh both directly and as a euphemism read aloud during occurrences of the Tetragrammaton יהוה (YHWH, "I Am that I Am; Jehovah"). See the usage notes below. Displaced the earlier term Drighten.

Derived

Lor' lud Lord have mercy Lord-a-mercy lordy O Lord oh Lord dear Lord my Lord good Lord Lawk lauk lawks Lord bless me Lord lumme Lor' lumme

Proper noun

  1. The Abrahamic deity of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths.
    • The breath of worldly men cannot depose, The deputy elected by the Lord. - 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares...
    • Their act emphasized their acceptance of Islam as their new allegiance and the forsaking of the true and Living God, Jehovah (the LORD), with devotion to the moon god idol Allah. Abram was given a new name, as well, by...

    1. (Judaism, Islam) The God of Abraham and the Jewish scriptures.

      Synonyms: Allah Jehovah

    2. (Christianity) God the Father; the Godhead.

      • Some trust in charets, and some in horses: but wee will remember the Name of the Lord our God. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 20:7:
  2. Jesus Christ, God the Son.
    • Therfore I doe you to vnderſtand that no má ſpeaking in the Spirit of God, ſaith anáthema to IESVS. And no man can ſay, Our Lord IESVS: but in the holy Ghoſt. - 1582, Douay–Rheims Bible, 1 Corinth. 12:3
    • How loyal in the following of thy Lord! - 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “(please specify |part=Prologue or Epilogue, or |canto=I to CXXIX)”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
  3. Any other deity particularly important to a religion or a worshipper.
    • ...and our Lord [the Horned God] as Master, Father, and Sage. - 2002, A.J. Drew, Wicca for Couples: Making Magick Together, page 89:
  4. An English surname transferred from the nickname, originally a nickname for someone who either acted as if he were a lord or had worked in a lord's household.

Forms

Lords

Derived

Lord of Hosts Lord's Day Lord knows Lord only knows Lord rest his soul the Lord's work Our Lord's candle Spirit of the Lord the Lord works in mysterious ways in the year of our Lord in the year of our Lord's incarnation Lord's Prayer Lord's Supper Lord's table Lord's Table our Lord year of the Lord Lord of the Flies

Noun

  1. A formal title of the lesser British nobility, used for a lord of the manor or Lord Proprietor.
  2. A generic title used in reference to any peer of the British nobility or any peer below the dignity of duke and (as a courtesy title) for the younger sons of dukes and marquesses (see usage note).
    • How do you do, Lord Darlington? - 1892, Oscar Wilde, “Act I”, in Lady Windermere's Fan […] :
  3. Similar formal and generic titles in other countries.
  4. An additional title added to denote the dignity of certain high officials, such as the "Lord Mayors" of major cities in the British Commonwealth
  5. The elected president of a festival.
  6. A high priest.

Forms

Lords

Related

laird

Derived

derived terms at lord Harvest Lord Lord of Christmas Lord of Misrule Lord Muck Summer Lord Civil Lord Lords' Act Lord Admiral Lords of the Admiralty Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty Lord High Admiral Lord Advocate Lords of the Articles Lord Bishop Lord Chamberlain Lord Great Chamberlain of England Lord Chancellor Lord Clerk Register Lords of the Congregation Lords of the Daily Council Lord Derby Lord General Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal