Members of the nobility collectively, the peerage.

In singular with plural agreement. People of good birth or high social position collectively. In later use only in collocation with simple (cf. simple…

With the and plural agreement. Lordly people as a class; those who are lordly. Formerly also: †a lordly person.

Without article: members of a noble class; nobles collectively.

With the and plural agreement. Noble or aristocratic people as a class; the aristocracy. Cf. sense A. 1a. Obsolete.

Chiefly with the and plural agreement. High-born people as a class.

A high-born person; such people collectively.