ward

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weard & Anglo-French warde, garde, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German warta act of watching, Old English warian to beware of, guard, wær careful — more at guard, wary Date: before 12th century 1. a. the action or process of guarding b. a body of guards 2. the state of being under guard; especially custody 3. a. the inner court of a castle or fortress b. a division (as a cell or block) of a prison c. a division in a hospital; especially a large room in a hospital where a number of patients often requiring similar treatment are accommodated 4. a. a division of a city for representative, electoral, or administrative purposes b. a division of some English and Scottish counties corresponding to a hundred c. the Mormon local congregation having auxiliary organizations (as Sunday schools and relief societies) and one or more quorums of each office of the Aaronic priesthood 5. a projecting ridge of metal in a lock casing or keyhole permitting only the insertion of a key with a corresponding notch; also a corresponding notch in a bit of a key 6. a person or thing under guard, protection, or surveillance: as a. a minor subject to wardship b. a person who by reason of incapacity (as minority or mental illness) is under the protection of a court either directly or through a guardian appointed by the court — called also ward of court c. a person or body of persons under the protection or tutelage of a government 7. a means of defense ; protection II. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weardian & Anglo-French warder, garder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, Old Norse vartha to guard, Old English weard ward Date: before 12th century 1. to keep watch over ; guard 2. to turn aside (something threatening) ; deflect — usually used with off <

ward off a blow

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trying to ward off a cold

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