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: defender, keeper, 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

noun

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

shepherd

²

/ ˈʃɛpəd /

noun

1. a person employed to tend sheep Female equivalentshepherdess bucolicpastoral
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

Other Words From

• shepherd·less adjective
• shepherd·like adjective
• under·shepherd noun
• un·shepherd·ed adjective
• un·shepherd·ing 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

Over many studies, Shepherd and his colleagues have shown that some cities really do get more rain in certain places than would be expected.

From Science News For Students

I am still a shepherd, and proud of it, but I now look to our soil, and our wildflowers, and the insects and birds around us, as other measures of our stewardship.

From Time

Shepherd’s research shows that only half of privately held companies that had raised at least $100 million had even one woman on the board.

From Washington Post

Marcus sought legal advice from Shepherd and talked to him about becoming a silent party to the suit, or filing a new one, and sharing in any proceeds should the case succeed, Marcus said.

From Washington Post

Soon after he met with Shepherd, Marcus tried to present the information to a Justice Department lawyer who worked on these issues.

From Washington Post

In the video, the bus is getting searched by a cop with a German shepherd.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, your German Shepherd Buster can wear his own health tracker.

From The Daily Beast

After killing the Egyptian he runs away for years, becomes a shepherd, starts a family.

From The Daily Beast

Rick must shepherd his newborn daughter, Judith, through this world of peril.

From The Daily Beast

It was only a hut of rough boards, carelessly knocked together for a shepherd's temporary home.

From Project Gutenberg

He evinced the opposite of the temper usually ascribed to the “Shepherd-boy” —a birth-date by Ex.

From Project Gutenberg

The faces of a flock of sheep are to a stranger all alike; to the shepherd, each has its personal individuality.

From Project Gutenberg

I, too, am a shepherd, you know; but a shepherd in black and without his crook is somewhat in the way.

From Project Gutenberg

On the large sheep-farms of that country a single shepherd often has the charge of from three to six thousand sheep.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• herder
• herdsman