a. and adv. [See -LIKE.]
A. adj. Resembling, befitting or characteristic of a lord; lordly. Now rare.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 56. Ledys on luff burd, with a lordlik fer.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xviii. 11. Be I ane lord, and not lord lyk, Than [etc.].
1546. Supplic. Poore Commons (E. E. T. S.), 89. They trust to optayne therby lordlyck liuinges out of the porsion of the poore.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXV. xxii. 565. Anniball made this glorious and lordlike aunswere with a majestie.
1603. B. Jonson, Sejanus, V. viii. Officious Friendes … start before My great, proud Lord, to get a Lord-like nod!
1646. Earl Monm., trans. Biondi’s Civil Warres, IX. 208. His Lordlike looks … captivated the good-will of the standers by.
1839–40. I. Taylor, Anc. Chr. (1842), II. viii. 400. He disclaims any lordlike authority in the Church.
Hence † Lordlikeness.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VII. 402. It can nocht be, but fredome, lordlyknes.
† B. adv. After the fashion of a lord, domineeringly. Also, as befits a lord; sumptuously. Obs.
1555. Ridley, in Coverdale, Lett. Martyrs (1564), 101. So many (I say) would at these my wordes Lordelike stampe and spurne and spit thereat.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 10. Behaue not your selues lordlike ouer the Clergie [1 Pet. v. 3].
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. II. 79. Manie great estates and gouernours there be, that during their office are lodged Lordlike.
1700. Dryden, Iliad, I. Fables, 202. Lord-like at ease … the People to devour.
1727. Boyer, Fr. Dict., Lord-like, en grand seigneur.
