I. ˈpastə(r), ˈpaas-, ˈpais-, ˈpȧs-, for 1 päˈstȯ(ə)r noun
Etymology: Middle English pastour, from Anglo-French, from Old French pastur, pastor, from Latin pastor, from pastus (past. part of pascere to pasture, feed, graze) + -or — more at food
1. -s chiefly Southwest : herdsman , shepherd
2. -s
a. : a spiritual overseer ; especially : a clergyman serving a local church or parish
the model of an eighteenth-century parish priest, scholar and squire and pastor of souls — Havelock Ellis
b. : one who gives protection or guidance to a group of people
3.
a. capitalized
[New Latin, from Latin]
in some classifications : a genus of starlings that includes only the rose-colored starling and is now usually incorporated in the genus Sturnus
b. -s : rose-colored starling
4. -s : man-of-war fish
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to serve as pastor to