shepherd

[shep-erd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shepherd ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.

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

a member of the clergy.

the Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

sheepdog.

verb (used with object)

to tend or guard as a shepherd: to shepherd the flock.

to watch over carefully.

Nearby words

Origin of shepherd

before 1050; Middle English shepherde, Old English scēphyrde. See sheep, herd²

SYNONYMS FOR shepherd

2. protector, guardian, defender, keeper.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shepherd ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

shep·herd·less, adjectiveshep·herd·like, adjectiveun·der·shep·herd, nounun·shep·herd·ed, adjective

un·shep·herd·ing, adjective

Shepherd

[shep-erd]

noun

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shepherd

In the video, the bus is getting searched by a cop with a German shepherd.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then when we arrive at his flat in Shepherd's Bush following the escape, perhaps there ought to be remnants of the ladder.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, your German Shepherd Buster can wear his own health tracker.
Nothing Says I Love You Like Data|The Daily Beast|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After killing the Egyptian he runs away for years, becomes a shepherd, starts a family.
Christian Bale: One Man's Moses Is Another Man's Terrorist|Candida Moss, Joel Baden|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Rick must shepherd his newborn daughter, Judith, through this world of peril.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero|Regina Lizik|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It goes without saying that the duke soon heard of the shepherd, for he had been anxiously awaiting the fate of the two governors.
Czechoslovak Fairy Tales|Parker Fillmore
Ivan heard all they had to say, and told them to employ him as a shepherd, taking turns in doing so.
The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories|Leo Tolstoi
The shepherd boy raised her in his arms and fled for the hills.
Waysiders|Seumas O'Kelly
This was done, and Cyrus remained the supposed child of the shepherd.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume IV|John Lord
Two yards of the cloth made a coat for the shepherd; and, as it cost 2s.
Cottage Economy|William Cobbett

British Dictionary definitions for shepherd

shepherd

noun

a person employed to tend sheepFemale equivalent: shepherdess Related adjectives: bucolic, pastoral

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

verb (tr)

to guide or watch over in the manner of a shepherd

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

Word Origin for shepherd

from Old English sceaphirde. See sheep, herd ²

Shepherd

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for shepherd

shepherd

Old English sceaphierde, from sceap "sheep" (see sheep) + hierde "herder," from heord "a herd" (see herd (n.)). Cf. Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schaphirde, Middle High German schafhirte, German dialectal Schafhirt. Shepherds customarily were buried with a tuft of wool in hand, to prove on Doomsday their occupation and be excused for often missing Sunday church. Shepherd's pie is recorded from 1877.

shepherd

1790, "to herd sheep," from shepherd (n.). The metaphoric sense of "watch over or guide" is first recorded 1820. Related: Shepherded; shepherding.

shepherd

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of shepherd

Shepherd

noun

Examples from the Web for shepherd

shepherd

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for shepherd

Shepherd

noun

shepherd

shepherd