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shepherdess

[shep-er-dis]
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noun
  1. a girl or woman who herds sheep.
  2. a rural girl.
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Origin of shepherdess

First recorded in 1350–1400, shepherdess is from the Middle English word shepherdesse. See shepherd, -ess

Usage note

See -ess.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for shepherdess

Historical Examples

  • Upon this delightful object the shepherdess gazed with an unwearied regard.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • The heart of the shepherdess had instinctively vibrated to the praises of simplicity.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • The shepherdess had listened to all the horrors of the scene with a gloomy kind of satisfaction.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • His "Robene and Makyne" is a "disputoison" between a shepherd and shepherdess.

  • She was a shepherdess to the core, and hated the poor "Packhorse."

Word Origin and History for shepherdess

n.

late 14c., from shepherd + -ess.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper