PASTORAL
arcadian, bucolic, pastoral
(adjective) (used with regard to idealized country life) idyllically rustic; “a country life of arcadian contentment”; “a pleasant bucolic scene”; “charming in its pastoral setting”; “rustic tranquility”
pastoral
(adjective) of or relating to a pastor; “pastoral work”; “a pastoral letter”
bucolic, pastoral
(adjective) relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle; “pastoral seminomadic people”; “pastoral land”; “a pastoral economy”
pastoral
(noun) a literary work idealizing the rural life (especially the life of shepherds)
pastoral
(noun) a letter from a pastor to the congregation
pastorale, pastoral, idyll, idyl
(noun) a musical composition that evokes rural life
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
pastoral (comparative more pastoral, superlative most pastoral)
Of or pertaining to shepherds or herders of other livestock
Relating to rural life and scenes
Relating to the care of souls, to the pastor of a church or to any local religious leader charged with the service of individual parishioners, i.e. a priest or rabbi.
Noun
pastoral (plural pastorals)
A poem describing the life and manners of shepherds; a poem in which the speakers assume the character of shepherds; an idyll; a bucolic.
(music) A cantata relating to rural life; a composition for instruments characterized by simplicity and sweetness; a lyrical composition the subject of which is taken from rural life.
(religion, Christianity) A letter of a pastor to his charge; specifically, a letter addressed by a bishop to his diocese.
(religion, Christianity) A letter of the House of Bishops, to be read in each parish.
Anagrams
• Laportas, al pastor, proatlas
Source: Wiktionary
Pas"tor*al, a. Etym: [L. pastoralis: cf. F. pastoral. See Pastor.]
1. Of or pertaining to shepherds; hence, relating to rural life and
scenes; as, a pastoral life.
2. Relating to the care of souls, or to the pastor of a church; as,
pastoral duties; a pastoral letter. Pastoral staff (Eccl.), a staff,
usually of the form of a shepherd's crook, borne as an official
emblem by a bishop, abbot, abbess, or other prelate privileged to
carry it. See Crook, and Crosier.
– Pastoral Theology, that part of theology which treats of the
duties of pastors.
Pas"tor*al, n.
1. A poem describing the life and manners of shepherds; a poem in
which the speakers assume the character of shepherds; an idyl; a
bucolic.
A pastoral is a poem in which any action or passion is represented by
its effects on a country life. Rambler.
2. (Mus.)
Definition: A cantata relating to rural life; a composition for instruments
characterized by simplicity and sweetness; a lyrical composition the
subject of which is taken from rural life. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
3. (Eccl.)
Definition: A letter of a pastor to his charge; specifically, a letter
addressed by a bishop to his diocese; also (Prot. Epis. Ch.), a
letter of the House of Bishops, to be read in each parish.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition