shepherd English · revision 14993

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1023}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈʃep.əd/, US /ˈʃep.ɚd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|shephirde]], [[inh|ang|scēaphierde]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) a compound of [[m|ang|scēap|t=sheep]] and [[m|ang|hierde|t=herdsman]], from [[m|ang|heord|t=herd]] (see [[sheep]] and [[herd]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Similar compounds are [[dum|schaphirde]] and German dialect Schafhirt.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A man who tends and guards sheep: before 1023.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A spiritual guardian or pastor is from before 1300,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and God or Christ as shepherd from 1382 in the Bible.^(OED 1989) Rulers are shepherds from 1577,^(OED 1989) and the figures of pastoral poetry from 1591.^(OED 1989) The verb, to tend sheep, is from 1790, and to watch over and guide from 1820, in Shelley.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Shepherds were customarily buried with a tuft of wool in hand, to prove their occupation on Doomsday and be excused for often missing church.^(Etymonline) ''Shepherd's pie'' is recorded from 1849.^(Etymonline) Shepherdess is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1023 – a shepherd.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – a pastor.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – God as shepherd.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1790 – to shepherd (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1820 – to guide.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1849 – shepherd's pie.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who tends sheep.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person, such as a member of the clergy, who watches over and guides a group of people.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To guide or watch over, as a shepherd does.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Australian rules football)'' To block opponents from tackling a teammate.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shepherdless]]

+ * [[shepherdlike]]

+ * [[shepherdess]]

+ * [[undershepherd]]

+ * [[unshepherded]]

+ * [[Australian Shepherd]]

+ * [[German shepherd]]

+ * [[shepherd dog]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cowherd]]

+ * [[goatherd]]

+ * [[gooseherd]]

+ * [[herd]]

+ * [[herder]]

+ * [[herding dog]]

+ * [[herd instinct]]

+ * [[herdsman]]

+ * [[neatherd]]

+ * [[swanherd]]

+ * [[swineherd]]

+ * [[sheep]]

+ * [[pastor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}