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 Words From

• loreless 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

My friends and I practiced our favorite moves at recess, hummed the opening songs of our favorite characters and discussed in great detail, like scholars at the Library of Pergamum, the lore and dramaturgy of the wrestlers we admired.

From Ozy

In lore and literature, the Kraken capsized, dismantled and swallowed galleons of seafarers.

From Washington Post

Toa Dunn, head of Riot Music Group, said they write music that “makes sense” for the characters and the lore.

From Washington Post

A college where she had accepted a job teaching botany had withdrawn the offer before she could arrive, according to family lore.

From Science News

Despite coming out to the Bay Area for college, I had very little idea of the history and lore of Silicon Valley.

From Fortune

The industry lore is downright jaw-dropping in the details of the cons known as “brick-in-box” returns.

From The Daily Beast

According to lore, 145 of these original soldiers of fortune either fled battle or were captured and settled in the area.

From The Daily Beast

According to local lore a neighboring village called Pajaro Negro—Black Bird—supposedly was named after the planes.

From The Daily Beast

Her grandfather had been a physician and healer who—according to family lore—married a descendant of the Osage or Pawnee tribes.

From The Daily Beast

And the not-so-subtle winks to Batman lore will be enough to satiate hungry fanboys for now.

From The Daily Beast

So unique is this formation that Indian lore relates that it was referred to as "the Bridge of God."

From Project Gutenberg

The poet was doubtless led into this error by his desire to preserve all the legends and superstitious lore of Provence.

From Project Gutenberg

But he had neither the gentle troubadour's art, as the knights of Provence, nor the deeper lore of the Spaniard.

From Project Gutenberg

The Professor had all sorts of strange lore, which he used, in his conversations with Hadria, almost as a fisherman uses his bait.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Farnham had saved Mr. Mountcastle's life, and in novel-lore this romantic incident always led up to love and marriage.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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