¹pastoral

adjective pas·to·ral \ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl\

: of or relating to the countryside or to the lives of people who live in the country

: of or relating to the spiritual care or guidance of people who are members of a religious group

: of or relating to the pastor of a church

Full Definition of PASTORAL

a (1) : of, relating to, or composed of shepherds or herdsmen (2) : devoted to or based on livestock raising

b : of or relating to the countryside : not urban <a pastoral setting>

c : portraying or expressive of the life of shepherds or country people especially in an idealized and conventionalized manner <pastoral poetry>

d : pleasingly peaceful and innocent : idyllic

a : of or relating to spiritual care or guidance especially of a congregation

b : of or relating to the pastor of a church

— pas·to·ral·ly \-t(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb

— pas·to·ral·ness noun

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Origin of PASTORAL

Middle English, from Latin pastoralis, from pastor herdsman

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PASTORAL

Synonyms: bucolic, country, rural, rustic (also rustical)

Antonyms: urban

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

²pastoral

noun \ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl; 1d is often ˌpas-tə-ˈräl, -ˈral\

Definition of PASTORAL

a : a literary work (as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usually artificial manner and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and especially court life

b : pastoral poetry or drama

c : a rural picture or scene

d : pastorale 1a

: crosier 1

: a letter of a pastor to his charge: as

a : a letter addressed by a bishop to his diocese

b : a letter of the house of bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church to be read in each parish