Izzy Cohen has written that he does not understand why "lord" and "lady"
come from words meaning loaf-guarder (hlafweard) and loaf-kneader (hlaefdige
, and proposes loanwords from other languages instead.
The matter of the semantic progression is clearer when we consider the
nature of IndoEuropean tribal society, which the AngloSaxons were part of.
(And there is now a revival of AngloSaxon tribalism, called theodism or
theodisc geleafa.)In IndoEuropean societies, a lord is like a father and
provider to his people. Loyalty is given to him and his lady with the
expectation that the lord and lady will protect the people from enemies and
from hunger. There are many inspiring stories from many branches of the
IndoEuropean family of peoples illustrating this point.
Also, the AngloSaxon words in questions are probably poetic compounds of the
typical Germanic "kenning" type. They are descriptions of the one of the
functions of the tribal leaders: to ensure the wellbeing of their people.
Mark DeFillo
Songwhenom Arioweghyesyo (Society of the Noble Path/IndoEuropean Way)
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