hlaford

Old English

Etymology

From earlier hlāfweard, from hlāf +‎ weard. See also hlǣfdīġe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxlɑː.ford/, [ˈl̥ɑː.vorˠd]

Noun

hlāford m (nominative plural hlāfordas)

1. lord, master of servants or slaves
   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Matthew 6:24

     Ne mæġ nān mann twām hlāfordum þēowian: oþþe hē sōðlīċe ǣnne hataþ and ōðerne lufaþ, oþþe hē biþ ānum ġehīersum and ōðrum unġehīersum. Ne magon ġē Gode þēowian and weoroldwelan.

     No one can serve two masters: either you'll hate one and love the other, or you'll obey one and disobey the other. You can't serve God and money.

2. male head of a household

Declension

Declension of hlaford (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	hlāford	hlāfordas
accusative	hlāford	hlāfordas
genitive	hlāfordes	hlāforda
dative	hlāforde	hlāfordum

Derived terms

• hlāfordlēas
• hlāfordlīċ
• hlāfordsċipe
• landhlāford
• sċiphlāford

Descendants

• Middle English: lhoaverd, louerd, lord
  • Scots: laird
  • English: lord
• → Old Norse: lávarði