overlord

Plural: overlords

Noun

• a person who has general authority over others
• A ruler of other rulers.
• A feudal lord directly owed rent or personal service by a tenant of subinfeudated land, a tenant's liege lord.
• Anyone with overarching power or authority in a given domain.

Verb

Verb Forms: overlorded, overlording, overlords

• To rule over someone or something oppressively.
• To rule over; to domineer.

Examples

• The crusty old professor was overlord of the history department, and few dared to cross his will.
• The dominant player began to overlord the board, blocking all attempts at high scores.
• The tenant owed a variety of obligations to his overlord—usually including military service or serjeanty—but these were gradually converted into monetary rents.
• The various tribal chieftains met each spring to elect an overlord that would lead them in time of war.

Synonyms

lord, master, &c., chief lord, despot, liege lord, tyrant

Related Words

overlady

Anagrams of overlord