First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
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
1
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
2
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
2pastoral
noun \ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl; 1d is often ˌpas-tə-ˈräl, -ˈral\
Definition of PASTORAL
1
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
2
: crosier 1
3
: 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
First Known Use of PASTORAL
1584
Other Literature Terms
PASTORAL[1] Defined for Kids
pastoral
adjective pas·to·ral \ˈpa-stə-rəl\
Definition of PASTORAL for Kids
1
: of or relating to peaceful scenes of the countryside
2
: of or relating to the pastor of a church
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