pastor
1 of 3noun (1)
pas·tor ˈpa-stər 
plural pastors
: a spiritual overseer
especially : a clergyperson serving a local church or parish
pastorship
ˈpa-stər-ˌship
noun pastor
2 of 3verb
pastored; pastoring ˈpa-st(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
: to serve as pastor of
pastor a church
pastor
3 of 3noun (2)
pas·tor pä-ˈstȯr
chiefly Southwestern US
: herdsman
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English pastour, from Anglo-French, from Latin pastor herdsman, from pascere to feed — more at food
Noun (2)
Spanish, from Latin
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1623, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
pastor
noun
pas·tor ˈpa-stər
: a minister or priest in charge of a church
pastors
noun
as in clergymen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- clergymen
- vicars
- churchmen
- rectors
- parsons
- bishops
- abbés
- shepherds
- curés
- clergywomen
- deaconesses
- archbishops
- prelates
- chaplains
- presbyters
- missionaries
- priestesses
- curates
- popes
- deans
- padres
- abbots
- diocesans
- fathers
- confessors
- preachers
- archpriests
- missioners
- religious
- evangelists
- priests
- monsignors
- deacons
- monks
- Holy Joes
- friars
- revivalists
- clerics
- monastics
- mendicants
- reverends
- ecclesiastics
- clericals
- ministers
- oblates
- sky pilots
- monsignori
- clergypersons
- divines
- missionizers
- high priestesses
- clerks
- dominies
- high priests
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- laymen
- laypeople
- lectors
- lay readers
- secular
- seculars