lordly

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English lordly, lordlich, from Old English hlāfordlīċ (lordly; heroic; noble), equivalent to lord +‎ -ly.

The adverb is from Middle English lordly, lordely, lordliche.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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lordly (comparative lordlier or more lordly, superlative lordliest or most lordly)

  1. Of or relating to a lord.
    Show us your lordly might: demonstrate that you can order people and get them to obey.
    • 1880, John Nichols, The Gentleman’s Magazine, volume 248, page 60:
      But they are the peers of the Queensland Parliament, and, having no lordly robes, must approach the Old Country model as closely as possible.
    • 2006, Steve Wharton, Screening Reality, page 104:
      [I]n that some form of duty and sacrifice (here, participation in the 1848 Revolution and a recognition of his lordly duty) is not only beneficially character-forming but also leads ultimately to a condition which is 'sublime'.
    • 2011, Thomas Smith, C. Matthew McMahon, Therese B. McMahon, Select Memoirs of the English and Scottish Divines, page 282:
      Samson, in reply to this, says, “If you are not lordly, nor value your lordly title, as you tell me, and I trust in truth and sincerity, shall I call you a phoenix?
    • 2011, Mary Jane Staples, Appointment at the Palace: An Adams Family Saga Novel, page 275:
      [H]e's still got his lordly habits, and more so since coming out of the war as a general.' 'A colonel, Sammy,' said Rachel. 'Same thing, good as,' said Sammy. 'Boots, of course, does wear his lordly crown with style,' said Rachel. 'Don't I know it?
  2. Having the qualities of a lord; lordlike; noble
    • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part II”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, [], →OCLC, page 30:
      Deep, indeed, / Their debt of thanks to her who first had dared / To leap the rotten pales of prejudice, / Disyoke their necks from custom, and assert / None lordlier than themselves but that which made / Woman and man.
  3. Appropriate for, or suitable to, a lord; glorious.
  4. Proud; haughty; imperious; insolent.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Adverb

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lordly (comparative lordlier, superlative lordliest)

  1. In the manner of a lord. Showing command or nobility.
    • 1891, Sir Edwin Arnold, The Light of the World: Or, The Great Consummation,[1] Book I — “Mary Magdalene”, Funk & Wagnalls, page 56,
      [] / And Herod's painted pinnaces, ablaze / With lamps, and brazen shields and spangled slaves, / Came and went lordly at Tiberias; / []
    • 1925, Claude Kean, Stock Charges Against the Bible[2], published 2003, page 61:
      Look at man, then, walking lordly amidst the gigantic flora and fauna of long ago; and see if seven, eight, nine hundred years do not sit serenely on his mighty brow.

Anagrams

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old English hlāfordlīċ; equivalent to lord +‎ -ly (adjectival suffix). The adverb is from the adjective.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈlɔːrdliː/, /-lit͡ʃ(ə)/

Adjective

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lordly

  1. lordly (related to or appropriate for a lord)
  2. (by extension) bold, powerful, proud

Descendants

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  • English: lordly

References

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Adverb

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lordly

  1. lordly (like a lord)
  2. (by extension) mightily, richly, proudly

Descendants

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References

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