pastor
UK[ˈpɑːstə]US[ˈpæstər]
n
a minister in charge of a christian church or congregation, especially in some protestant denominations.
n
a person who gives spiritual guidance to a group of people.
Morpheme Breakdown
past
or
past
herd
or
person who
Etymology
the word 'pastor' entered english in the late 14th century via old french from the latin 'pastor', meaning 'shepherd'. this latin term derives from the verb 'pascere' ('to feed, to graze'), which itself traces back to the pie root pa- ('to protect, to feed'). the semantic evolution from a literal 'feeder of sheep' to a spiritual 'feeder of a congregation' is a direct and powerful metaphor found in christian theology, where a religious leader is seen as guiding and nurturing their flock. the english spelling and meaning have remained remarkably close to the latin source, preserving this ancient pastoral imagery.
Analysis
Structure: past (herd) + or (person who)
past (from latin 'pastor', meaning 'shepherd', from the verb 'pascere', 'to feed, to lead to pasture'); or (a latin agent noun suffix denoting 'a person who does something').
Examples
the pastor delivered a moving sermon on compassion.
she sought advice from her pastor during a difficult time.
the community respected the pastor for his decades of dedicated service.