[f. LORDSHIP sb.]
† 1. intr. To exercise lordship; to be a lord or ruler. Const. of, to, up. Obs.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter ix. 27 [x. 5]. Þe ryȝtful shal lord-shipen of alle hys enemys. Ibid., xlviii. 15 [xlix. 14]. Þe riȝtful shul lord-shippe vp hem in ioie.
1382. Wyclif, Judg. xiv. 4. Forsothe that tyme Philistien lordshipide to Yrael.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. xxxiii. (1869), 21. Whan he hadde seruauntes he was lord and lordshipinge [Fr. et seigneurissant].
c. 1430. Lydg., Reas. & Sens. (E.E.T.S.), 2445. He lordshyppeth, and hath cure Of euery maner creature.
2. trans. To exercise lordship over; to govern.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter, lxxxviii. 10 [lxxxix. 9]. Þou lord-shippest þe pouste of þe seo. Ibid., cv. 38 [cvi. 41]. Hij þat hated hem lord-shipped hem.
3. To address as ‘Your lordship.’
1740. trans. De Mouhy’s Fort. Country=Maid (1741), II. 80. She Lordship’d every one who did her the Honour to address themselves to her.
1880. W. J. Fitz-Patrick, Life Dr. Doyle, I. 91. Some of the priests … lordshipped him.
Hence † Lordshipping, the action of the vb., dominion, ownership. Also † Lordshipper, one who exercises lordship; a ruler.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 385. Þis is þe mooste cyuylite or seculer lordeschipinge þat eny kynge or lorde haþ on his tenauntes. Ibid., Micah v. 2. Of thee [Bethlem] shal gon out to me, whiche is lordshiper in Yrael. Ibid., 2 Pet. ii. 10. Hem that walken aftir flesch,… and despijsen lordscheping.
