Lordship

//ˈlɔɹd.ʃɪp// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The state or condition of being a lord. countable, uncountable

    "For example, we know that Alfred did connect land tenure with lordship and that he was particularly interested in questions of military service[…]"

  2. 2
    the authority of a lord wordnet
  3. 3
    Title applied to a lord, bishop, judge, or another man with a title. broadly, capitalized, countable, often, uncountable

    "May I ask that the order be granted, if your lordship so pleases?"

  4. 4
    a title used to address any British peer except a duke and extended to a bishop or a judge wordnet
  5. 5
    A man (sometimes a boy) who is behaving in a seigneurial manner or acting like a lord, behaving in a bossy manner or lording it up countable, humorous, uncountable
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  1. 6
    Seigniory; domain; the territory over which a lord holds jurisdiction; a manor. countable, uncountable

    "What lands and lordships for their owner know / My quondam barber, but his worship now."

  2. 7
    Dominion; power; authority. countable, uncountable

    "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them."

Etymology

From Middle English lordshipe, laverdschipe, from Old English hlāfordsċiepe, equivalent to lord + -ship. Cognate with Scots lairdschip. Piecewise doublet of lairdship.

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