Ward (?), n. [AS. weard, fem., guard, weard, masc., keeper, guard; akin to OS. ward a watcher, warden, G. wart, OHG. wart, Icel. vörðr a warden, a watch, Goth. -wards in daúrawards a doorkeeper, and E. wary; cf. OF. warde guard, from the German. See Ware, a., Wary, and cf. Guard, Wraith.] 1. The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1.
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Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward. Spenser.
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2. One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection.
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For the best ward of mine honor. Shak.
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The assieged castle's ward
Their steadfast stands did mightily maintain. Spenser.
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For want of other ward,
He lifted up his hand, his front to guard. Dryden.
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3. The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody.
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And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard. Gen. xl. 3.
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I must attend his majesty's command, to whom I am now in ward. Shak.
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It is also inconvenient, in Ireland, that the wards and marriages of gentlemen's children should be in the disposal of any of those lords. Spenser.
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4. A guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard. “Thou knowest my old ward; here I lay, and thus I bore my point.” Shak.
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5. One who, or that which, is guarded. Specifically: --
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(a) A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery. “You know our father's ward, the fair Monimia.” Otway.
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(b) A division of a county. [Eng. & Scot.]
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(c) A division, district, or quarter of a town or city.
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Throughout the trembling city placed a guard,
Dealing an equal share to every ward. Dryden.
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(d) A division of a forest. [Eng.]
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(e) A division of a hospital; as, a fever ward.
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6. (a) 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. (b) A notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch. Knight.
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The lock is made . . . more secure by attaching wards to the front, as well as to the back, plate of the lock, in which case the key must be furnished with corresponding notches. Tomlinson.
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Ward penny (O. Eng. Law), money paid to the sheriff or castellan for watching and warding a castle. -- Ward staff, a constable's or watchman's staff. [Obs.]
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Ward, v. i. 1. To be vigilant; to keep guard.
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2. To act on the defensive with a weapon.
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She redoubling her blows drove the stranger to no other shift than to ward and go back. Sir P. Sidney.
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