lordly

• Lordly

From Middle English louerdlich, lordlyche, lordeliche, from Old English hlāfordlīċ (“lordly; heroic; noble”), equivalent to lord +‎ -ly.

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

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:

     [...] in 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:

     [...] he'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
3. Appropriate for, or suitable to, a lord; glorious.
   • Bible, Judges v. 25

     She brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

   • Tennyson

     The maidens gathered strength and grace / And presence, lordlier than before.

   • 1849 — Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, chapter 27

     It had also its Hall, called the Priory - an older, a larger, a more lordly abode than any Briarfield or Whinbury owned;

   • 1897 — Bram Stoker, Dracula, chapter 27

     There was one great tomb more lordly than all the rest.

4. Proud; haughty; imperious; insolent.
   • Milton

     Lords are lordliest in their wine.

• lordliness

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, 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, 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.

• drolly