shepherd

English Online Dictionary. What means shepherd‎? What does shepherd mean?

English

.

Etymology

From Middle English schepherde, from Old English sċēaphierde, a compound of sċēap (“sheep”) and hierde (“herdsman”), equivalent to modern sheep +‎ herd (“herder”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɛpəd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɛpəɹd/
• Hyphenation: shep‧herd

Noun

shepherd (plural shepherds)

1. A person who tends sheep, especially a grazing flock.

   Synonym: pastor (now rare)

   Hyponym: shepherdess (f.)

   1. A male sheep tender

      Coordinate term: shepherdess (f.)

2. (figurative) Someone who watches over, looks after, or guides somebody.

   Hyponym: shepherdess (f.)

   • 1769, Oxford Standard text, Bible (King James), Psalms 23:1

     The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

   1. A male watcher/guardian/guider/leader

      Coordinate term: shepherdess (f.)

3. (figurative) The pastor of a church; one who guides others in religion.

   Hyponym: shepherdess (f.)

   1. A male pastor

      Coordinate term: shepherdess (f.)

4. (poetic) A swain; a rustic male lover.
5. A German Shepherd.

Coordinate terms

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Related terms

Translations

Verb

shepherd (third-person singular simple present shepherds, present participle shepherding, simple past and past participle shepherded)

1. (transitive) To watch over; to guide.
2. (transitive, Australian rules football) To obstruct an opponent from getting to the ball, either when a teammate has it or is going for it, or if the ball is about to bounce through the goal or out of bounds.

Translations

Scots

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Scots scheiphird, schiphird, from Middle English schepherde, from Old English sċēaphierde; equivalent to sheep +‎ herd, hird (“herdsman, herder”).

Noun

shepherd (plural shepherds)

1. A shepherd (sheep herder or analogous guiding individual)