shepherd

¹

[shep-erd]

noun

1. a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.

2. a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.

   Synonyms: keeper, defender, guardian, protector

3. a member of the clergy.

4. the Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

5. sheepdog.

verb (used with object)

1. to tend or guard as a shepherd.

   to shepherd the flock.

2. to watch over carefully.

Shepherd

²

[shep-erd]

noun

1. a male given name.

shepherd

¹

/ ˈʃɛpəd /

noun

1. Female equivalent: shepherdess. a person employed to tend sheep

2. a person, such as a clergyman, who watches over or guides a group of people

verb

1. to guide or watch over in the manner of a shepherd

2. Australian rules football to prevent opponents from tackling (a member of one's own team) by blocking their path

Shepherd

²

noun

1. astronomy a small moon of (e.g.) Saturn orbiting close to the rings and partly responsible for ring stability

Other Word Forms

• shepherdless adjective
• shepherdlike adjective
• undershepherd noun
• unshepherded adjective
• unshepherding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shepherd¹

before 1050; Middle English shepherde, Old English scēphyrde. See sheep, herd ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of shepherd¹

from Old English sceaphirde. See _sheep , _herd ²

Example Sentences

The litter is the biggest at Guide Dogs since 2022, when German shepherd Unity surprised the charity with a record-breaking 16 puppies.

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One of the latest came to light in al-Otaiba village, in the district of Eastern Ghouta, where a shepherd stumbled on clothing and human remains after straw was burnt off.

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Only the second version includes the shepherd, who is directing his herd away from a dangerous precipice through which water flows from a dam generating power for the mill.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Leask and a network of locals—including a retired dentist, a shepherd and a retired project manager—gathered more information and tipped off officials.

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"I might have played second shepherd in the Nativity."

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Related Words

• herder 
• herdsman