GUARD

I. noun see: ward Date: 15th century one assigned to protect or oversee another: as, a person or a body of persons on sentinel duty, troops attached to the person of the sovereign, conductor b, 2. a defensive state or attitude , a defensive position (as in boxing), 3. the act or duty of protecting or defending, the state of being protected ; protection , a protective or safety device, precaution , 6. a position or player next to the center in a football line, a player stationed in the backcourt in basketball, II. verb Date: 1500 transitive verb to protect an edge of with an ornamental border, 2. to protect from danger especially by watchful attention ; make secure , to stand at the entrance of as if on ~ or as a barrier, to tend to carefully ; preserve , protect , escort , 4. to watch over so as to prevent escape, disclosure, or indiscretion, to attempt to prevent (an opponent) from playing effectively or scoring, intransitive verb to watch by way of caution or defense ; stand ~, see: defend ~er noun