Pastor
/ˈpæs.tər/noun
A Christian minister or spiritual shepherd of a congregation.
Did you know?Pastor comes from the same Latin root as “pasture” and “compassion,” because the original image was not a podium speaker but someone feeding and guarding a flock.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pa-
“to protect, feed, or tend cattle”
Latin
Latin
pāstor
“a shepherd, one who feeds and tends sheep”
Late Latin
Latin
pāstor
“a Christian spiritual shepherd”
Old French
Old French
pastor
“a shepherd; later a church minister”
Middle English
English
pastour
“a shepherd or spiritual guide”
Modern English
English
pastor
“a minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation”