— shepherdless , adj. — shepherdlike , adj.
/shep"euhrd/ , n.
1. a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.
2. a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.
3. a member of the clergy.
4. the Shepherd , Jesus Christ.
5. See sheepdog .
v.t.
6. to tend or guard as a shepherd: to shepherd the flock.
7. to watch over carefully.
[ bef. 1050; ME shepherde, OE scephyrde. See SHEEP, HERD 2 ]
Syn. 2. protector, guardian, defender, keeper.