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shepherdless

 - 2 dictionary results

shep⋅herd

  [shep-erd]
Use shepherdless in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.
2. a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.
3. a member of the clergy.
4. the Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
5. sheepdog.
–verb (used with object)
6. to tend or guard as a shepherd: to shepherd the flock.
7. to watch over carefully.
Origin:
bef. 1050; ME shepherde, OE scēphyrde. See sheep, herd 2

Related forms:
shep⋅herd⋅less, adjective
shep⋅herd⋅like, adjective

Synonyms:
2. protector, guardian, defender, keeper.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

shepherd  (n.)
O.E. sceaphierde, from sceap "sheep" + hierde "herder," from heord "a herd" (see herd). Cf. M.L.G., M.Du. schaphirde, M.H.G. schafhirte, Ger. dial. schafhirt. Shepherds customarily were buried with a tuft of wool in hand, to prove their occupation on Doomsday and be excused for often missing Sunday church. The metaphoric verbal sense of "watch over or guide" is first recorded 1820. Shepherd's pie is recorded from 1877.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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