), from the Latin Senior (comparative of Senex, "old man"), is the Portuguese word for lord, sir or mister.
The term is related to Spanish señor, Catalan senyor, Occitan sénher, French seigneur, and Italian signore.
Sua Senhoria (translated as His Lordship or Her Ladyship) was the prescribed manner of address to archbishops (with the exception of the Archbishop of Braga who, due to his rank as Primate of Hispania, was entitled to the style of Sua Senhoria Reverendíssima, or His Most Reverend Lordship), bishops, dukes (with the exception of the Duke of Braganza, who was to be addressed as Sua Excelência, Your Excellency, same as the King's grandchildren) and their children, marquesses, counts, the Prior of Crato, viceroys and governors (when not related to the King), and other high authorities of the Kingdom (such as judges or ambassadors).
[1] After 1739, as Grandees (dukes, marquesses, counts) were given the style of address of Sua Excelência, the use of Sua Senhoria became restricted to address the lesser ranks of titled nobility (viscounts and barons), the legitimate sons and daughters of titled nobility, occupants of some offices at court, diplomats, some other authorities, and canons.
English speakers may find the latter construction akin to the parliamentary convention of referring to fellow legislators in the third person (as "my colleague", "the gentleman", "the member", etc.