Lord too soon meeting premature end (4)
I believe the answer is:
earl
'lord' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'too soon meeting premature end' is the wordplay.
'too soon' becomes 'early' (I've seen this before).
'meeting premature end' means to remove the last letter (the word finishes earlier than normal).
'early' with its last letter taken off is 'EARL'.
(Other definitions for earl that I've seen before include "Count" , "Aristocrat ranking between marquis and viscount" , "UK nobleman ranking between marquess and viscount" , "Countess his wife" , "Rank below marquess" .)