Lordlinesse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The dignified and noble manner or bearing characteristic of a lord or person of high rank
2. The quality of possessing an elevated, commanding presence marked by authority and stateliness
3. A dignified and lofty demeanor befitting someone of noble or superior station

Etymology: The word "lord" carries the surprise. It comes from Old English "hlāford," built from "hlāf," meaning "loaf," and "weard," meaning "keeper" or "guardian." A lord was first the keeper of the bread, the person who provided for a household, and the sense of ruler or master grew out of that role. "Lordlinesse" is "lordly" plus the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun of quality. "Lordly" comes from "lord" with the Old English suffix "-līc," meaning "like" or "fitting." The "-esse" spelling is a Middle English variant of "-ness," used in the period when the word was current, roughly the 14th to 15th centuries. It meant the qualities befitting a lord: dignity, stateliness, or sometimes haughtiness. It has since fallen out of use, replaced by "lordliness."

Synonyms: nobility, grandeur, dignity

Antonyms: humility, lowliness