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Pastoral vs Bucolic - What's the difference?

pastoral | bucolic |

As adjectives the difference between pastoral and bucolic

is that pastoral is of or pertaining to shepherds; hence, relating to rural life and scenes; as, a pastoral life while bucolic is rustic, pastoral, country-styled.

As nouns the difference between pastoral and bucolic

is that pastoral is a poem describing the life and manners of shepherds; a poem in which the speakers assume the character of shepherds; an idyll; a bucolic while bucolic is a pastoral poem.

pastoral

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to shepherds; hence, relating to rural life and scenes; as, a pastoral life.
  • :* He wanders west as far as Memphis, a solitary migrant upon that flat and pastoral landscape. - 1985 , chapter
  • :* [...] these pastoral farms,/Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke / Sent up, in silence, from among the trees! - 1798 , lines 16-18.
  • Relating to the care of souls, or to the pastor of a church.
  • pastoral''' duties; a '''pastoral letter

    Derived terms

    * 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. * pastoralism * pastoralist

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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. Moore
  • (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 , to be read in each parish.
  • bucolic

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Rustic, pastoral, country-styled.
  • Pertaining to herdsmen or peasants.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pastoral poem.
  • A rustic, peasant
  • See also
    * georgic