ward

¹ward

noun \ˈwȯrd\

Definition of WARD

1

a : the action or process of guarding b : a body of guards

2

: the state of being under guard; especially : custody

3

a : the inner court of a castle or fortress b : a division (as a cell or block) of a prison c : a division in a hospital; especially : a large room in a hospital where a number of patients often requiring similar treatment are accommodated

4

a : a division of a city for representative, electoral, or administrative purposes b : a division of some English and Scottish counties corresponding to a hundred c : the Mormon local congregation having auxiliary organizations (as Sunday schools and relief societies) and one or more quorums of each office of the Aaronic priesthood

5

: a projecting ridge of metal in a lock casing or keyhole permitting only the insertion of a key with a corresponding notch; also : a corresponding notch in a bit of a key

6

: a person or thing under guard, protection, or surveillance: as a : a minor subject to wardship b : a person who by reason of incapacity (as minority or mental illness) is under the protection of a court either directly or through a guardian appointed by the court —called also ward of court c : a person or body of persons under the protection or tutelage of a government

7

: a means of defense : protection

Examples of WARD

1. She works in the cancer ward.
2. the council representative from Ward 22
3. They were wards of the state.

Origin of WARD

Middle English, from Old English weard & Anglo-French warde, garde, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German warta act of watching, Old English warian to beware of, guard, wær careful — more at guard, wary

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WARD

Synonyms: aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, guard, protection, safeguard, screen, security, shield, wall, defense

Related Words: arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry; fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold

Near Antonyms: aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with WARD

board, chord, cord, cored, floored, ford, gourd, hoard, horde, lord, oared, pored, sward, sword