Lord
A Lord (or Laird in some Scottish contexts) is a person who has power and authority. It can have different meanings depending on the context of use. Women will usually (but not universally) take the title 'Lady' instead of Laird or Lord. Two examples of a female Lord are the Lord of Mann, or the current Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
The etymology of the English word lord goes back to Old English hlaf-weard (loaf-guardian) – reflecting the Germanic tribal custom of a superior providing food for his followers. The female equivalent, Lady, may come from words meaning "loaf-kneader".
Religion
In a religious context, The Lord or The LORD is a name referring to God,mainly by the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity). In the Pagan religion Wicca, God is also referred to as The Lord and his counterpart is The Lady. This is a title used in Christianity to refer to the Virgin Mary.
A "Dark Lord" is a title is usually used in religion and mythology to refer to the Devil and other demons, or evil gods. In fiction, a Dark Lord is a similar type of powerful supervillain.
Feudalism
In feudalism, a Lord (French: seigneur) has aristocratic rank and has control over a portion of land and the produce and labor of the serfs living thereon. The serf would swear the oath of fealty to the Lord, or "keeper of the loaves". Such lords normally inherit their position and theoretically expect allegiance similar to that owed to a monarch.
As part of the heritage of feudalism, the word lord can generally refer to superiors of many kinds, e.g. "landlord". In many cultures in Europe the equivalent term serves as a general title of address equivalent to the English "Mister" (French Monsieur, Spanish Señor, Italian Signore, Dutch Meneer/Mijnheer/De Heer (as in: to de heer George Johnson), German Herr, Hungarian Úr) or to the English formal "you" (Polish Pan). Compare "gentleman".
Title
In the United Kingdom, the House of Lords – commonly known as "the Lords" – forms the upper house of Parliament. Until recently many hereditary lords (particularly English lords, as opposed to Scottish and Irish lords) had automatic membership of the House of Lords – but see House of Lords Act 1999.
Five ranks of peer exist in the UK, namely Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron; and all male peers except dukes use the style "Lord X". The title "Lord" also applies by courtesy to certain of their children, e.g. the younger sons of dukes and marquesses can use the style "Lord (firstname) (lastname)". Many Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons use the style "Lord (title)"; for example, Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, commonly known as "Lord Tennyson". Barons, in particular, are almost never referred to as anything but "Lord X". In the Peerage of Scotland, the members of the lowest level of the peerage have the title "Lord of Parliament" rather than "Baron".
Senior judges use the title "Lord":
- the Law Lords or "Lords of Appeal in Ordinary" who have the rank of life barons
- judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, known as "Lords Justices of Appeal"
- judges of the Scottish Court of Session, known as "Lords of Council and Session"
Various high offices of state may carry the cachet of honorary lords: thus we find titles such as Lord High Chancellor or Lord Mayor.
Another English title, that of "Lord of the Manor", does not connote peerage and does not carry parliamentary rights. The title merely marks the holder as the owner of a manor who has certain local rights. It carries no social marker. Somewhat analogously, in Scotland the word "Laird" means owner of a landed estate, or more simply 'landowner'.
In the middle ages bishops were influential and powerful magnates who held the feudal rank of 'lord'; thus even today the form of address "Lord Bishop" is still sometimes heard (particularly in Commonwealth countries) for Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops. Additionally, 26 bishops of the established Church of England hold seats in the UK House of Lords as "Lords Spiritual".