ward

Meaning

Noun

A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman.

Verb

1. To keep in safety, to watch over, to guard.
2. To defend, to protect.
3. To fend off, to repel, to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches. (usually followed by off)
4. To be vigilant; to keep guard.
5. To act on the defensive with a weapon.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/wɔːd/

Etymology

From Middle English ward, from Old English weard (“keeper, watchman, guard, guardian, protector; lord, king; possessor”), from Proto-Germanic *warduz (“guard, keeper”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to heed, defend”). Cognate with Dutch waard, German Wart.