Definition of pasture

The word "pasture" comes from the Old French word "pastur" meaning "place for grazing livestock." It is believed to have originated from the Latin word "pascere," which also means "to graze." The Latin word "pascere" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "pek-," which means "fattening, fodder, to feed." This root is found in many European languages, including English ("feed"), German ("pachten," meaning "grazing land"), and Dutch ("voeden," meaning "to feed"). The French word "pastur" also gave rise to the medieval and modern English words "pastoreal" and "pastor," which originally referred to someone who tended to livestock, and later to clergy members who tended to spiritual herds. Additionally, the Old French word "paisture" became "pasture" in Middle English, while the shorter form "pastur" coexisted with it until the 16th century. In modern English, "pasture" is commonly used to describe a tract of land where crops and grasses are grown for the benefit and nourishment of animals. It can also be used more broadly to describe any place conducive to growth and wellbeing, such as a peaceful countryside scene.