Ward

wawrd, v.t. to guard or take care of: to keep in safety: to keep away, fend off (with off ).— v.i. to act on the defensive.— n. act of warding, watch: those whose busine is to ward or defend: state of being guarded: means of guarding: one who is under a guardian: a division of a city, hospital, county, ( B. ) army, .: that which guards a lock or hinders any but the right key from opening it: ( B. ) guard, prison: a defensive movement in fencing.— ns. Ward′en , one who wards or guards: a keeper, especially a public officer appointed for the naval or military protection of some particular district of country: the head of a school, college, .; Ward′enry ( rare ), the district in charge of a warden; Ward′enship , the office of a warden; Ward′er , one who wards or keeps: a staff of authority; Ward′-mote , a meeting of a ward, or of a court of a ward, which has power to inquire into and present defaults in matters relating to watch, police, .; Ward′robe , a room or portable closet for robes or clothes: wearing apparel; Ward′-room , a room used as a me room by the officers of a war-ship; Ward′ship , the office of a ward or guardian: state of being under a guardian: in English feudal law, the guardianship which the feudal lord had of the land of his va al while the latter was an infant or minor.— Ward in Chancery , a minor under the protection of the Court of Chancery.— Warden of the Cinque Ports , the governor of the Cinque Ports, having the authority of an admiral and the power to hold a court of admiralty; Warden of the Marches , officers formerly appointed to keep the districts of England adjoining Scotland and Wales in a state of defence; Warden of the Mint , formerly the official of the English Mint next in rank to the Master.— Port warden , the chief officer in a port. [A.S. weardian ; Ger. warten , to watch in order to protect.]