I. ˈwȯrd 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
trying to ward off a cold