Pastoral

Quick meaning: Pastoral is an adjective meaning Of or pertaining to shepherds or herders of other livestock.

Meaning

Of or pertaining to shepherds or herders of other livestock.

More Meanings

1. Relating to rural life and scenes, in particular of poetry.
2. A poem describing the life and manners of shepherds; a poem in which the speakers assume the character of shepherds; an idyll; a bucolic.
3. (religion, Christianity) A letter of a pastor to his charge; specifically, a letter addressed by a bishop to his diocese.
4. (religion, Christianity) A letter of the House of Bishops, to be read in each parish.
5. Relating to the care of souls, to the pastor of a church or to any local religious leader charged with the service of individual parishioners, i.e. a priest or rabbi.
6. (music) A cantata relating to rural life; a composition for instruments characterized by simplicity and sweetness; a lyrical composition the subject of which is taken from rural life.

Example Sentences

pastoral duties

a pastoral letter

We were living a pastoral life.

He wanders west as far as Memphis, a solitary migrant upon that flat and pastoral landscape.

Word Forms

• pastorals

Synonyms for pastoral

Depending on context, synonyms include shepherdish, shepherdly, bucolic, rustic, cleric, clerical.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include arcadian, rural, rustic, bucolic, pleasant, idyllic.

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