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Added 9 October 2026

ward

/wɔːd/ noun

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In Latin: pūpillus, pūpilla Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ward at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman.

noun

  1. Protection, defence. The action of a watchman; monitoring, surveillance Guardianship, especially of a child or prisoner. An enchantment or spell placed over a designated area or social unit, that prevents any trespasser from entering; approaching; or even being able to locate said protected premises or demographic. A guarding or defensive motion or position. Land tenure through military service.
  2. The action of a watchman; monitoring, surveillance
  3. Guardianship, especially of a child or prisoner.

verb

  1. To keep in safety, to watch over, to guard.
  2. To defend, to protect.
  3. To fend off, to repel, to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches.

Origin

From Middle English warde, from Old English weard (“keeper, watchman, guard, guardian, protector; lord, king; possessor”), from Proto-Germanic *warduz (“guard, keeper”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to heed, defend”). Cognate with Dutch waard, German Wart.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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