pastor

[pas-ter, pah-ster]

noun

1. a minister or priest in charge of a church.

2. a person having spiritual care of a number of persons.

3. Ornithology.,  any of various starlings, especially Sturnus roseus rosy pastor of Europe and Asia.

verb (used with object)

1. to serve as the pastor of.

   He pastored the church here for many years.

pastor

/ ˈpɑːstə /

noun

1. a clergyman or priest in charge of a congregation

2. a person who exercises spiritual guidance over a number of people

3. an archaic word for shepherd

4. Also called: rosy pastor. a S Asian starling, Sturnus roseus, having glossy black head and wings and a pale pink body

pastor

1. In some groups of Christians (see also Christian), the clergyman in charge of an individual congregation. The term is used this way in the Lutheran Church and Roman Catholic Church and, to a lesser extent, by Baptists and in the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Other Word Forms

• pastorship noun
• pastorless adjective
• pastorlike adjective
• pastorly adjective
• subpastor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pastor¹

1325–75; < Latin pāstor shepherd, literally, feeder, equivalent to pās-, base of pāscere to put to pasture, feed + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English pastour < Anglo-French

Word History and Origins

Origin of pastor¹

C14: from Latin: shepherd, from pascere to feed

Example Sentences

She wasn’t found until eight months later, when Casey confessed to his pastor.

From Los Angeles Times

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie is currently on trial over the so-called "Shakahola Forest Massacre" - and has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

From BBC

The pastor and three others arrested during the search warrants are now out of custody and have not yet been charged.

From Los Angeles Times

As the pastor neared the end of his statement, his voice became clearer and stronger as he spoke about his desire for justice, before offering Patterson his forgiveness.

From BBC

Trena Turner, a pastor in Stockton and fellow commissioner, said she’s tremendously proud of the commission’s work and believes its impartial approach to political line-drawing is a model the rest of America should embrace.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cleric 
• minister 
• preacher 
• priest 
• rector 
• vicar