shepherd
UK[ˈʃɛpəd]US[ˈʃɛpərd]
n
A person whose job is to take care of sheep
v
To guide or direct people in a careful way
Morpheme Breakdown
sheep
herd
sheep
herd
Etymology
The word 'shepherd' is a transparent compound from Old English, formed from 'scēap' (sheep) and 'hierde' (herdsman, guardian). It literally means "a sheep-herder." Over time, while retaining its core agricultural meaning, it developed a strong metaphorical sense of guiding, protecting, and providing careful oversight, influenced by religious and literary contexts. This semantic expansion reflects the role of a shepherd as not merely a minder of animals but a responsible leader and protector.
Analysis
Structure: sheep + herd
- sheep: From Old English 'scēap', of Germanic origin, referring to the animal. Acts as the base noun.
- herd: From Old English 'hierde', of Germanic origin, meaning a keeper or guardian. Acts as an agent noun suffix.
Examples
The shepherd led his flock to fresh pasture.
It is the government's duty to shepherd the nation through the economic crisis.
She patiently shepherded the new students through the registration process.