HERD • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Herd

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noun

Herd n.

A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a particular stock or family of cattle. "The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea." Note: Herd is distinguished from flock, as being chiefly applied to the larger animals. A number of cattle, when driven to market, is called a drove.

A crowd of low people; a rabble. "But far more numerous was the herd of such Who think too little and who talk too much." "You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question."

Herd's grass (Bot.), one of several species of grass, highly esteemed for hay. See under Grass.

Herd n. One who herds or assembles domestic animals; a herdsman; much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the like.

verb

Herd v. t. To form or put into a herd.

Herd v. i. (past & past part. herded; pres. part. herding)

To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills.

To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self among, a group or company. "I'll herd among his friends, and seem One of the number."

To act as a herdsman or a shepherd. (Scot.)

adjective

Herd adj. Haired. (Obs.)

See images of 'Herd'

Etymology of 'Herd'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Herd" Quotes from Famous Books

... usual with the devil in his temptings of poor creatures, to put a good and bad together, that by show of the good the tempted might be drawn to do that which in truth is evil. Thus he served Saul; he spared the best of the herd and flock, under pretence of sacrificing to God, and so transgressed the plain command. But this the apostle said was dangerous, and therefore censureth such as in a state of condemnation. Thus he served Adam; he put the ...

— The Riches of Bunyan • Jeremiah Rev. Chaplin

... up, "as far as fighting goes, he ought to be a commander-in-chief! A wounded Colombian told me the fellow sprang on them like a lion falling on a herd of deer. A lucky thing for us that the Marianos are in a minority ...

— At the Point of the Sword • Herbert Hayens

... common, when we desired the Prelates' tyranny might cease." No; for the intention had been under the pretext of abating one tyranny to establish a far severer and more galling in its stead: in doing this the banks had been thrown down, and the hedge destroyed; and while the bestial herd who broke in rejoiced in the havoc, Baxter, and other such erring though good men, stood marvelling at the mischief, which never could have been effected, if they had not mainly assisted ...

— The Literary Remains Of Samuel Taylor Coleridge • Edited By Henry Nelson Coleridge

... natural state are employed. Simply dried and twisted, they form a scourge as terrible as the Russian knout or African cowhide, though of a different character—a scourge which, even in its lightest form, reduces the wildest herd to instant order; and which, as employed on criminals, is hardly less dreaded than that electric rack whereby Martial science inflicts on every nerve a graduated torture such as even ecclesiastical malignity has not invented on Earth—such as I certainly will not ...

— Across the Zodiac • Percy Greg

... the search in despair. She could not bear to return to her own castle where she had been so happy with her lover, but determined rather to endure her loneliness and desolation in a strange land. She took a place as herd-girl with a peasant, and buried her jewels and beautiful dresses in a safe ...

— The Green Fairy Book • Various

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