Pastor

Pastor, pas′tur, n. one who has care of a flock: a shepherd: a clergyman.—adj. Pas′toral, relating to shepherds or to shepherd life: rustic: of or pertaining to the pastor of a church: addressed to the clergy of a diocese by their bishop.—n. a poem which describes the scenery and life of the country: a letter or an address by a pastor to his people, or by a bishop to his clergy: (mus.) a simple melody.—n. Pas′toralism, pastoral character.—adv. Pas′torally.—ns. Pas′torate, Pas′torship, the office of a pastor: the time during which one has been a pastor: the whole body of pastors in one church or district.—adj. Pas′torly, becoming a pastor.—Pastoral address, or letter (see Pastoral, n.); Pastoral charge, position of a pastor: the church, &c., over which a pastor is placed: an address to a newly ordained minister; Pastoral epistles, those in the New Test. to Timothy and Titus; Pastoral staff, a tall staff borne as an emblem of episcopal authority, headed like a shepherd's crook, or having a T-shaped head; Pastoral theology, that part of theology which treats of the duties of pastors; Pastoral work, the work of a pastor in visiting his people. [L., pascĕre, pastum, to feed.]