1. [n]  a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock
2. [n]  a clergyman who watches over a group of people
3. [v]  tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats
4. [v]  watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils

1. \Shep"herd\, n. [OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS.
   sce['a]phyrde; sce['a]p sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd,
   a guardian. See {Sheep}, and {Herd}.]
   1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep,
      esp. a flock grazing at large.
   2. The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of
      others.
   {Shepherd bird} (Zo["o]l.), the crested screamer. See
      {Screamer}.
   {Shepherd dog} (Zo["o]l.), a breed of dogs used largely for
      the herding and care of sheep. There are several kinds, as
      the collie, or Scotch shepherd dog, and the English
      shepherd dog. Called also {shepherd's dog}.
   {Shepherd dog}, a name of Pan. --Keats.
   {Shepherd kings}, the chiefs of a nomadic people who invaded
      Egypt from the East in the traditional period, and
      conquered it, at least in part. They were expelled after
      about five hundred years, and attempts have been made to
      connect their expulsion with narrative in the book of
      Exodus.
   {Shepherd's club} (Bot.), the common mullein. See {Mullein}.
   {Shepherd's crook}, a long staff having the end curved so as
      to form a large hook, -- used by shepherds.
   {Shepherd's needle} (Bot.), the lady's comb.
   {Shepherd's plaid}, a kind of woolen cloth of a checkered
      black and white pattern.
   {Shephered spider} (Zo["o]l.), a daddy longlegs, or
      harvestman.
   {Shepherd's pouch}, or {Shepherd's purse} (Bot.), an annual
      cruciferous plant ({Capsella Bursapastoris}) bearing small
      white flowers and pouchlike pods. See Illust. of
      {Silicle}.
   {Shepherd's rod}, or {Shepherd's staff} (Bot.), the small
      teasel.
   

2. \Shep"herd\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shepherded}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Shepherding}.]
   To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a
   shepherd. [Poetic]
         White, fleecy clouds . . .
         Shepherded by the slow, unwilling wind.  --Shelley.
   

a word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word "pastor" is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4).

The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief (see 1 Sam. 17:34).", Deane's David.