lore

¹

[lawr, lohr]

noun

1. the body of knowledge, especially of a traditional, anecdotal, or popular nature, on a particular subject.

   the lore of herbs.

   Synonyms: wisdom

2. learning, knowledge, or erudition.

3. Archaic.

   1. the process or act of teaching; instruction.

   2. something that is taught; lesson.

lore

²

[lawr, lohr]

noun

Zoology.

1. the space between the eye and the bill of a bird, or a corresponding space in other animals, as snakes.

lore

¹

/ lɔː /

noun

1. collective knowledge or wisdom on a particular subject, esp of a traditional nature

2. knowledge or learning

3. archaic,  teaching, or something that is taught

lore

²

/ lɔː /

noun

1. the surface of the head of a bird between the eyes and the base of the bill

2. the corresponding area in a snake or fish

Other Word Forms

• loreless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lore¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English lār; cognate with Dutch leer, German Lehre “teaching”; learn

Origin of lore²

First recorded in 1615–25; from New Latin lōrum, special use of Latin lōrum “thong, strap”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lore¹

Old English lār; related to leornian to _learn

Origin of lore²

C19: from New Latin lōrum, from Latin: strap

Synonym Study

See learning.

Example Sentences

Not just with Wales – although his withering assessment of a loss to Finland has gone down in lore – but, in the Premier League, live takedowns of Graeme Souness and John Terry spring to mind.

From BBC

As the franchise’s all-time strikeout leader, his place in club lore had already been enshrined.

From Los Angeles Times

But over the past five years, his work has expanded into a mix of content, featuring photographs of old architecture, cultural lore and stories behind local delicacies.

From BBC

The phrase “Cursum Perficio” — Latin for “The journey ends here” — was adorned in tile on the front porch, adding to the property’s lore.

From Los Angeles Times

With this fourth movie, the Warren lore has been so thoroughly picked over, the tropes and rhythms now so ingrained, the jump scares end up feeling routine at best.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adage 
• belief 
• custom 
• fable 
• folklore 
• knowledge 
• legend 
• mythology 
• superstition 
• tale 
• tradition