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pastor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word pastor

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (pāscō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpaːs.tɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpas.tor][1]

Forms

pāstor m (genitive pāstōris, feminine pāstrīx); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from pāscō “to feed, pasture” with the suffix -tor.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of a herdsman.[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus; he dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a herdsman, especially a shepherd, as in Ennius, and in Quintilian a foster-father.[2]

In Christian Latin it meant a shepherd of souls, the head of a Christian community, a bishop, and an abbot.[5] In canon law it is the priest in charge of a parish.[6] British Medieval Latin also used it of one who feeds animals.[7] It survives in Italian pastore, French pasteur and pâtre, and Spanish pastor, and through Old French it gave English pastor in the late 14th century, first “shepherd”, also a spiritual guide.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a herdsman.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a foster-father.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English pastor is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A herdsman, shepherd.[2]
  2. A foster-father.[2]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A pastor; a bishop; an abbot.[5][6]

Word family

  • pāstōrālis
  • pāstōricius
  • pāstōrius

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Pastor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/pastor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·