Lord

LORD

Forms-

OE: hláfweard, hláford

ME: laford, laverd → lorde, lord

Etymological constituents-

hláf (meaning "bread", "loaf") + weard (meaning "keeper", "ward")

Phonological development-

14. ct- dropping of the intervocalic v + contraction of vowels → monosyllabic word lord

Primary meaning-

"the head of the household" in his relation to the servants and dependents who 'eat his bread'.

This can be compared with OE hláf-ǽta (literary meaning "bread-eater", "servant"). 

The word was later adopted as the customary rendering of Latin dominus (meaning "master"). 

Other meanings-

In early use- the word applied for any man of exalted position in a kingdom.

In modern use- the word used as equivalent to "nobleman".

In current use- "a peer", or for a person entitled to the prefix Lord by courtesy.

In 14. ct- "an owner, possessor, proprietor" (now poetical, PDE landlord is preferred)

In Lindisfarne Gospel (950 AD)- "a master of servants" (now obsolete)

In Anglo-Saxon Chronicle- specific use "a feudal superior".