Main Entry: ¹ward

Pronunciation: \ˈwȯrd\

Function: noun

Etymology: 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

Date: before 12th century

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