古英語のhlafweard, breadkeeper, lord of the houseから。語源はhlaf, breadで、語源的にはloafと同じ。weard, caretakerで、語源的にはward, guardと同じ。ラテン語のDominus, lord, Godに対応する。後に尊敬語として用いられる。
英語の語源
lord
lord: [OE] It is a measure of the centrality of bread to human society that the word lord denotes etymologically ‘guardian of the loaf’. It goes back to a primitive Old English *khlaibward, a compound formed from *khlaib ‘loaf’ and *ward ‘guardian, keeper’ (ancestor of modern English ward). This gradually developed in Old English via hlāfweard to hlāford, and in the 14th century it lost its middle /v/ to become the single-syllable word we know today. Lady was likewise originally based on the word loaf. => guard, loaf, ward
lord (n.)
mid-13c., laverd, loverd, from Old English hlaford "master of a household, ruler, superior," also "God" (translating Latin Dominus, though Old English drihten was used more often), earlier hlafweard, literally "one who guards the loaves," from hlaf "bread, loaf" (see loaf (n.)) + weard "keeper, guardian" (see ward (n.)). Compare lady (literally "bread-kneader"), and Old English hlaf?ta "household servant," literally "loaf-eater." Modern monosyllabic form emerged 14c. As an interjection from late 14c. Lord's Prayer is from 1540s. Lord of the Flies translates Beelzebub (q.v.) and was name of 1954 book by William Golding. To drink like a lord is from 1620s.
lord (v.)
c. 1300, "to exercise lordship," from lord (n.). Meaning "to play the lord, domineer" is late 14c. Related: Lorded; lording. To lord it is from 1570s.
例文
1. 「Good lord ，that 's what heis：he 's a policeman.」
「なんてことだ、彼は警察だったのか。」
＜dl>＜dt＞2.A few days earlier he had received a telegram from Lord Lloyd.
数日前、ロイド卿から電報を受け取った。
3.His nine-month sentence was overturned by Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Watkins.
控訴裁判所のワトキンス判事は、彼に対する懲役9カ月の判決を取り消した。
4.She prayed now." Lord ，help me to find courage."
彼女はすぐに祈った。「神様、勇気をください」She told us she was descended from some Scottish Lord .