Hypertext Webster Gateway: "shepherd"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Shepherd
a word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes
the word "pastor" is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10;
17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation
of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1;
80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11,
14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4).
The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like
Palestine were very onerous. "In early morning he led forth the
flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they
were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care
that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his
watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till
he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be
supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose
has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug
in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he
brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed
under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were
missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he
had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of
wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief (see 1
Sam. 17:34).", Deane's David.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Shepherd \Shep"herd\, n. [OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS.
sce['a]phyrde; sce['a]p sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd,
a guardian. See {Sheep}, and {Herd}.]
1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep,
esp. a flock grazing at large.
2. The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of
others.
{Shepherd bird} (Zo["o]l.), the crested screamer. See
{Screamer}.
{Shepherd dog} (Zo["o]l.), a breed of dogs used largely for
the herding and care of sheep. There are several kinds, as
the collie, or Scotch shepherd dog, and the English
shepherd dog. Called also {shepherd's dog}.
{Shepherd dog}, a name of Pan. --Keats.
{Shepherd kings}, the chiefs of a nomadic people who invaded
Egypt from the East in the traditional period, and
conquered it, at least in part. They were expelled after
about five hundred years, and attempts have been made to
connect their expulsion with narrative in the book of
Exodus.
{Shepherd's club} (Bot.), the common mullein. See {Mullein}.
{Shepherd's crook}, a long staff having the end curved so as
to form a large hook, -- used by shepherds.
{Shepherd's needle} (Bot.), the lady's comb.
{Shepherd's plaid}, a kind of woolen cloth of a checkered
black and white pattern.
{Shephered spider} (Zo["o]l.), a daddy longlegs, or
harvestman.
{Shepherd's pouch}, or {Shepherd's purse} (Bot.), an annual
cruciferous plant ({Capsella Bursapastoris}) bearing small
white flowers and pouchlike pods. See Illust. of
{Silicle}.
{Shepherd's rod}, or {Shepherd's staff} (Bot.), the small
teasel.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Shepherd \Shep"herd\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shepherded}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Shepherding}.]
To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a
shepherd. [Poetic]
White, fleecy clouds . . .
Shepherded by the slow, unwilling wind. --Shelley.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
shepherd
n 1: a clergyman who watches over a group of people
2: a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the
sheep together in a flock [syn: {sheepherder}, {sheepman}]
v 1: watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils
2: tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.