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

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

But the delight is in the theorizing, in the layering of lore and anticipation.

From Salon

In the lore: “A 130-foot tall red and silver giant of light, Ultraman came to Earth from another galaxy to protect humanity from invading aliens and giant monsters.”

From Los Angeles Times

They have become as much a part of Lake Tahoe lore as lazy afternoons by the water or starlit evenings under mountain peaks.

From Los Angeles Times

But Swift and the Kelce brothers also took a moment to drop some new Taylor baking lore.

From Salon

Related Words

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