pastoral
- 01 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a beautiful, peaceful country scene, often with farm animals like sheep.
adj.relating to the countryside or to the lives of people who live there, especially in an idealized or romanticized way.
Simple“The painting showed a pastoral scene of sheep grazing on a green hill.”
In context“The poet spent his later years in a pastoral retreat, finding inspiration in the rhythmic simplicity of the agricultural seasons.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to the work of a priest or teacher in looking after the personal needs of their people.
adj.concerning the spiritual or emotional care and guidance provided by a religious leader or an educator to their community.
Simple“The school provides excellent pastoral care to help students with their personal problems.”
In context“The bishop's pastoral visit focused on providing emotional support to the families affected by the recent floods.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a piece of writing, music, or art that shows a simple and peaceful country life.
n.a literary or musical work portraying or evoking the life of shepherds or the quietude of the country.
Simple“The composer wrote a beautiful pastoral for the flute and piano.”
In context“The collection includes several pastorals that contrast the innocence of the shepherd's life with the corruption of the royal court.”
Synonymsidylleclogue - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.an official letter from a bishop or church leader to the people in their area.
n.an official letter or message addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of a diocese.
Simple“The priest read the bishop's pastoral to the congregation during the Sunday service.”
In context“The latest pastoral from the House of Bishops addresses the ethical implications of new medical technologies.”
“Purevraqchaa Mongolia’s rangelands may appear open, but they support ecosystems and pastoral livelihoods, underscoring why the location of renewable-energy projects matters.”
“These relationships point to extensive contact and exchange among prehistoric farming and pastoral communities across a wide geographic area.”
From Middle French, Old French pastoral, from Latin pāstōrālis, from pāstor (“shepherd”), + adjective suffix -ālis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.