— guardianless , adj.
/gahr"dee euhn/ , n.
1. a person who guards, protects, or preserves.
2. Law. a person who is entrusted by law with the care of the person or property, or both, of another, as a minor or someone legally incapable of managing his or her own affairs.
3. the superior of a Franciscan convent.
adj.
4. guarding; protecting: a guardian deity.
[ 1375-1425; late ME gardein ]
Syn. 1. protector, defender.
Pronunciation . GUARDIAN is occasionally pronounced with two syllables and with stress on the final syllable: /gahr deen"/ . This pronunciation is now most characteristic of older, less educated speakers.