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Webster 1913 Edition

Pastoral

Pas′tor-al

,
Adj.
[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

,
Noun.
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.)
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.)
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Pastoral

P`ASTORAL

,
Adj.
[L. pastoralis.] Pertaining to shepherds; as a pastoral life; pastoral manners.
1.
Descriptive of the life of shepherds; as a pastoral poem.
2.
Relating to the care of souls, or to the pastor of a church; as pastoral care or duties; a pastoral letter.
Piety is the life and soul of pastoral fidelity.

P`ASTORAL

,
Noun.
A poem describing the life and manners of shepherds, or a poem in imitation of the action of a shepherd, and in which the speakers take upon themselves 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.

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