ˈwȯrd ə n, ˈwȯ(ə)d- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wardein, from Old North French, from warder to ward, guard, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, take care — more at ward
1. : one having care or charge of something : guardian , keeper
2. : a person invested with power to govern or control : a chief executive officer: as
a. : regent 2
b. : a member of the governing body of a guild and especially of a livery company of the City of London
c. : an officer in charge of a port or market
d. : the governor of a town, district, or fortress
e. : the chief executive of a borough in Connecticut
f. : the head of a county council in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces
3.
a. : an official charged with special supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specified laws or regulations
a game warden
air raid warden
— see fire warden
b. : an official in charge of the operation of a prison
c. : any of various officials of the British crown or royal household having designated administrative duties
warden of the mint
d.
(1) : an official in charge of a polling place
(2) : an officer who formerly presided at meetings of a ward
4.
a. : churchwarden 2
b. : any of various British college officials whose duties range from those of a dean to those of a head of residence
c. : either of two officials in a symbolic lodge whose duty is to assist the worshipful master — called also respectively junior warden, senior warden
5. : gatekeeper , porter