ward

1. a. The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1. Source: opted

2. n. One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection. Source: opted

3. n. The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody. Source: opted

4. n. A guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard. Source: opted

5. n. One who, or that which, is guarded. Source: opted

6. n. A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery. Source: opted

7. n. A division of a county. Source: opted

8. n. A division, district, or quarter of a town or city. Source: opted

9. n. A division of a forest. Source: opted

10. n. A division of a hospital; as, a fever ward. Source: opted

11. n. A projecting ridge of metal in the interior of a lock, to prevent the use of any key which has not a corresponding notch for passing it. Source: opted

12. n. A notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch. Source: opted

13. n. To keep in safety; to watch; to guard; formerly, in a specific sense, to guard during the day time. Source: opted

14. n. To defend; to protect. Source: opted

15. n. To defend by walls, fortifications, etc. Source: opted

16. n. To fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches; -- usually followed by off. Source: opted

17. v. i. To be vigilant; to keep guard. Source: opted

18. v. i. To act on the defensive with a weapon. Source: opted

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