LORD

in Great Britain, a general title for a prince or sovereign or for a feudal superior (especially a feudal tenant who holds directly from the king, i.e., a baron). It today denotes a peer of the realm, a member of the House of Lords, which includes the lords temporal and the lords spiritual. The prefix lord is ordinarily used as a less formal alternative to the full title (whether held by right or by courtesy) of marquess, earl, or viscount and is always so used in the case of baron (particularly in the peerage of Scotland, where it remains the only correct usage at all times). Where the name is territorial, the of is droppedthus the marquess of A., but Lord A. The younger sons of a duke or marquess have, by courtesy, the title of lord prefixed to their Christian name and surname, e.g., Lord John Russell. In the case of a diocesan bishop his proper title is the Lord Bishop of A., whether he be a spiritual peer or not. Some high officials of the Cabinet have the word lord prefixed to their titles, e.g., first lord of the Treasury (the prime minister), lord high chancellor, lord president of the council, lord privy seal. In certain cases the members of a board that has taken the place of an office of state are known as lords commissioners, e.g., lords of the Treasury, civil or naval lords of the Admiralty. The form of address my lord is properly used not only for bishops and those of the nobility to whom the title lord is applicable but also for all judges of the high court in England and lord provosts. See also lady.