Middle English Dictionary Entry
lōrding(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lōrding(e n. Also lhording, lordin & loverding, lovereding, loverdingue, laverding, laferding & (errors) lordig, laueding, lauer(d)þing, lauerdind. Pl. lōrdinges, etc. & lōrdingen. |
| Etymology | OE hlāfording |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A master of servants; also fig.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)372/185 : Daiþet habbe swuch a louerding and alle þat him wel loue!
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)67/25 : Þis zenne [of grudging] is ine uele maneres, as in sergons aye hire lhordinges, ine wyfmen aye hare leuedis.
2.
(a) A ruler, sovereign, king; the lord of a city; heigh ~; (b) the leader of a tribe or clan.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)515 : Yf..mine children wolden thriue, Louerdinges after me Of al denemark micten he be.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)833 : Neg ilc burge hadde ise louereding.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)33/5 : A wer bigan Bitvene a trewe cristen king & an heþen heye lording, Of Dames þe soudan!
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)5/40 : Orfeo was a kinge, In Jnglond an heiȝe lording.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)16 : Emperour he was of rome, & lord of al christendome; Þan was he an heiȝe lording.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.10.17 : Þe lord oure god..ys god of goddys & lord of lordyngys [WB(2): lordis; L dominantium].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2970 : Herd it es to kepe..Þe thing þat ilk man wald war his..Þat ȝernd es o gret laueding [?read: lauerding; Göt: lording].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11769 : O þat tun was a lauerding [Frf: lordinge].
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)25 : In Grece..þer was A knyȝt þat hiȝt Pallaas; Þer was noon of Grece þe hiest Lording.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3237 : Heris..gentyl lordynges, I ȝow brynge goode tydynges.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2573 : My lording..I am noȝt gilty of þis gile.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)965 : A-qweynte ȝou wyth þat lordyng.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)250/209 : He is oure chefe lordyng, sir Cesar.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6404 : In þat si-quare..was a lauerding [Frf: lording] hight amalec.
3.
(a) A feudal lord; (b) a person of high birth or social rank; (c) a noble warrior, knight; also, a military commander.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.83 : William wist of alle..Of lordyng & of thralle þe extente þorgh acounte.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.214 : Tille ilk a lordyng suld ward & relefe falle Bot tille þe kyng no þing.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.60 : Ȝoure liegis..loued ȝou full lelly..redy to ride..at ȝoure heste..Tyll leuerez hem lette and lordyns wrongis.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)179 : Þe riche þe ben louerdinges struien þe wrecche men, þe ben underlinges.
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)247 : Tweye Ioliue louerdingues [Corp-C: louerdlinges]..Siweden him [St. John].
- ?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.134 : Hi ne schold schow har miȝt For lordingen boste þat beþ aboue.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8870 : Þer was þo in engelond a suiþe gret louerding [vr. lorlyng; B vrr. lordynge, lording]..Sire roberd le fiz haym.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)494 : Þat riche douke..wiþ him mani a gret lording [vrr. lorlyng, lordlyngs]..Þai diȝt him..For to wende on dere-hunting.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)44/520 : Þe steward sat atte mete, & mani lording was bi him sete.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.144 : Þise kynges þat ben vnderlynges to Antecrist bitokneþ þe grete lordynges of þis werlde.
- a1400(?c1300) Amis (Eg 2862)8 : Her faders were barons hende, Lordinges com of grete kynde.
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)53/1114 : In þis world nas knyȝt ne king, Emperour ne grete lordyng [vr. lordling], Þat nolde me chese to his wyf.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)45/18 : Herodes helde a feste..wiþ alle þe grete lordynges of þe cuntre of Galilee.
- c1430 Chaucer CT.ML.(Cmb Gg.4.27)B.254 : Byschopis ben schapyn with here for to wende, Lordyngis [Heng: Lordes], ladyis, knyȝtis of renoun.
- a1450(1401) For drede (Dgb 102)148 : Popes, prelates, and lordynges, Alle are dedly, and so ben kynges.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3289 : Þe bysshop of Canterbury come wt hym eke, & mony a noþer gret lordynge.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)214 : Þe feste was broght to ende, And lordyngys can home wende.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)609 : Hy [friars] beþ..Ycloþed in curious cloþ & clenliche arayed; It is a laweles lijf as lordynges vsen.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1771 : Hii nome an grete louerding..& sende him here to þis lond, & men wiþ him inowe.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)442 : Þer was sone..mani a gret lording yschent.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)11 : With him was mony lordinge Hardi of honde.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)2546 : The kyng..went to Rowncyvale, ther the bodyes lyen be tale of many an heyȝe lordyng.
4.
(a) ?A judge; (b) an ecclesiastic of high rank; a bishop, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.26 : Þe Iustise..Busked him into þe Bour..Þenne tok þei leue þis lordynges [Trin-C: lordis] at Meede.
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10146 : Þe sousprior of hor hous þe monekes chose echon, & þe king ches þe bissop of norþwich..To rome hii were boþe isent, þis louerdinges tueye, To be isacred of þe pope.
5.
God, Christ.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.34.6 : Lordyng [Corp-O: Lordshiper; L Dominator] lord god, mercyable & goodlich.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)41/16 : The sone of God is conceyued in the wombe of the Virgine, the whiche lordyng was in the first day of his birthe of as gret myght and wysdom as he was in his thritti yere.
6.
One who has mastery over things.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)403 : Adam..was last wroght als lauerding [Göt: lauerþing; Frf: lordynge] Vte-ouer al oþerkin thing.
7.
(a) As a term of polite address used by persons of humbler station to their superiors; by poets, minstrels, or storytellers to readers or audience; sir; -- usually pl.; (b) pl. gentlemen; -- as a term of gracious or friendly address by a superior or an equal.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)918 : Nu, laferrdinngess, loke we Whatt tiss maȝȝ uss bitacnenn.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)215/31 : Lordinges and leuedis, þis is si glorius miracle..of ure lordes beringe.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(LdMisc 108)166 : Louerdingues, wel is eou þat ȝe mouwen ouwer wille do.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)1 : Lystneþ, lordynges, a newe song ichulle bigynne.
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)183 : Lordinges gode and hend, Mot ȝe neuer of world wend.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)402 : Of a prince proude in play Listneþ, lordinges dere.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1/1 : Lordinges [vr. Lordlingis], herkneþ to me tale!
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3429 : Lordynges, ensample heer by may ye take, How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.788 : Lordynges..herkneth for the beste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1163 : O word, lordynges, herkneth er I go.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4907 : Leue lauerdinges [Frf: lordinges], Haue we noght þan o þe kinges.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6863 : Lauerdings [Frf: lordinges]..To birth i wald our lauerd lede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19311 : Lauerdinges [Frf: lordes]..We find ur prisuns all a-wai.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)23 : Lordynges, in Grece sum tyme þer was A knyȝt þat hiȝt Pallaas.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)389 : Lordinges [Arms: Lordlyng], y am com here ffro Troye as a messengere.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.NP.(Hrl 7334)B.4515 : Allas, lordynges [Heng: ye lordes], many a fals flatour Is in ȝour hous.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)178/654d : Lordyngys, be nought wroth.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)23 : Lording myne, if it be your wille, þis is þe cause of my sorowe.
- c1450 Libeaus (Clg A.2:Ritson)434 : Of these knyghtes thre Harkeneth, lordynges fre, A ferly fayr fyghtynge.
- a1500 Listenythe nowe & (Dgb 88)33 : Of thys mater here shull ye, Lordynges.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)98/305 : Lordinges, these wordes are so veray that exposition, in good faye, none needes.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6406 : Nu, laferrdinngess, fareþþ forþ & sekeþþ..Þatt newe king þatt borenn iss.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12664 : Lusteð, lauerdindes [Otho: louerdlinges], of ure tiðendes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13211 : Lusteð, lauerd þinges, þe while þe ich speke of kinges.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14828 : Lusteð me, lauerd-dinges, ich æm þissere leodene king.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27394 : Lauerdinges..Mahun eou beo liðe; ȝe beoð kinges riche.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)647 : Lordinges..wiþ muchel honur ȝe habbeþ iherd of Blauncheflur.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)549 : Louerdyngues..ich..luyte ȝwule habbe bischop i-beo.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1401 : Louerdinges, ich wile you sheue A þing of me þat ye wel knewe.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2446 : Lordynges..wel ȝe witeþ what vs is by-ffalle Of Iudas.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11564 : Louerdinges [vr. lorlynges]..habbeþ nou god dai.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)69 : Lordinges..lesse & mare, Out of þis warld y most fare.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)19/204 : Lordinges [vr. Lordys]..Bifor ȝou here Ich ordainy min heiȝe steward.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1183 : Leue lordinges, lestenes to mi sawe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2212 : Lordynges, the nede for the which we ben assembled in this place is ful heuy thyng.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7291 : Lauerdinges [Göt: Lordinges]..quat es your will?
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)2224 : Me thinc, lordiges [?read: lordinges; Frf: lordes; Trin-C: sires; Vsp: godmen], þai war vnwise, Vr eldris, [etc.].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3003 : Lordynges, Alisaunder þe kyng Haþ on erþe non euenyng.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5877 : Lordynges, my modir, the goddesse..Nis not..at my willyng.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)362 : Lordynges [vr. sirs]..I haue enquerd of ihesu here, And in hym can I fynde no ille.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)462 : Ȝe lordyngs, oure lose be noghte lost.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)110/37 : Þe kynge..saide till his lordez & his knyghtes: 'Lordyngis..sitt ȝe still & etez.'
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)238 : Lordyngs, thanne aspye ȝe A womman worthy to be my make.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2075 : Lordingges goode, Ye bene biseged in this toure.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)83/1 : Listenyth, lordyngys, bothe hye and lowe, And..takyth heyd on to my sawe.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)166/101 : Lordyns [vr. Lordyngis]..The kyng of troye thus gan vs shend.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)82 : Lordinges, we knowe not the will of the kynge.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)33/24 : Lordynges, what is vs to done?
8.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1327) Sub.R.Lei.in AASRP 19.2219 : Thomas Lording'.