overlord
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overlord
- /ˈəʊvə(ɹ)lɔː(ɹ)d/
- /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈlɔː(ɹ)d/
Where it comes from
From Middle English oferrlaferrd, orlard, our-lord, ouyr-lord, equivalent to over- + lord.
noun overlords
- A ruler of other rulers. The various tribal chieftains met each spring to elect an overlord that would lead them in time of war.
-
A feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord.
The tenant owed a variety of obligations to his overlord—usually including military service or serjeanty—but these were gradually converted into monetary rents.
Similar: liege lord, chief lord, tyrant, despot, &c.
- Anyone with overarching power or authority in a given domain. The crusty old professor was overlord of the history department, and few dared to cross his will.
verb overlords · overlording · overlorded
- To rule over; to domineer. Poor Johnny one-note sang out with gusto / And just overlorded the place
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: master, lord, hegemonic, hegemonist, hegemony, supervision, control, ruler, superoverlord, overking, overling, overqueen, overlady, overlordliness, overrider, overpowerer
Translations
Every language
noun a ruler of other rulers
| 日本語 | 覇王 haō |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Oberherr, Lehnsherr |
| Italiano | signore supremo, sovrano |
| Ελληνικά | επικυρίαρχος epikyríarchos, ηγεμόνας igemónas |
| Русский | царь carʹ, верхо́вный князь verxóvnyj knjazʹ |
noun historical: feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord
| Português | susserano |
|---|
noun anyone with overarching power or authority in given domain
| Español | señor feudal |
|---|---|
| Italiano | signore feudale |
Talk about this word "overlord." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/overlord. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. overlord. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/overlord "overlord." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/overlord.Cite this
@misc{overlord_2026,
title = {overlord},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/overlord},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
