| 释义 |
▪ I. † ward, n.1 Obs.
Forms: 1 weard, 4–5 warde, 5– ward.
[OE. weard masc. = OS. ward, OHG. (MHG., mod.G.) wart, ON. vǫrð-r, Goth. dauraward-s doorkeeper:—OTeut. *warđu-z, *warđo-z; synonymous words differing in declension are OE. wearda, OHG. warto (MHG. warte):—OTeut. *warđon-, and Goth. wardja:—OTeut. *warđjon-; f. Teut. *warđ-, an extended form of *war- to watch, guard: see ware n.2 and a.]
A watchman, guard, keeper, warden.
Common in OE. (often applied to God, as in rodora weard, keeper of the skies). Later, chiefly as the second element in compounds, as bear-, gate-, hay-, mill-, woodward.
Beowulf 229 Weard Scildinga, se þe holmclifu healdan scolde. a680Cædmon Hymn 1 Nu scylun herᵹan hefaen⁓ricaes uard. 971Blickl. Hom. 11 Salomones reste wæs mid weardum ymbseted. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 320 For any wye or warde wide opene the ȝatis. 1471Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 213 Thou hast slayn the wardes of the serpentes and the portyers of the lions [Fr. (1510) les soursers des serpens & les portiers des lyons] that kepte this contre Inhabitable.
▪ II. ward, n.2|wɔːd|
Forms: 1 weard, 3–7 warde, 4 Sc. vard, 5 waard, north. wayrd, 5–8 Sc. waird, 6–7 (rare) word(e, 7 Sc. wairde, 4– ward.
[OE. weard str. fem. = MLG. warde, OHG. warta (MHG. warte, wart, guard, watch, observation, mod.G. warte watch-tower):—OTeut. *warđō, f. *warđ- (see prec.), whence also ON. varðe wk. masc., varða wk. fem., cairn, heap of stones. The Teut. word was adopted in Rom.: OF. warde (north-eastern), guarde, garde (whence guard n.), mod.F. garde, Pr., Sp. guarda.
Some of the senses below are derived from the Law French warde (whence AL. warda), which appears to be in part an adoption of the Eng. word, and in part the north-eastern OF. form. In Law French, from the 13th c. onward, the word has regularly the form garde.]
I. Action of watching or guarding.
1. The action or function of a watchman, sentinel, or the like; observation for the purpose of discovering the approach of danger; look-out, watch, guard; also, surveillance. Phrases, to hold ward, keep ward. Also in the alliterative formula watch and ward (orig. a law phrase): see watch n. Now arch.
Beowulf 319 Ic to sæ wille wið wrað werod wearde healdan. c1350Will. Palerne 2202 But ward was þer set wide wher aboute of bold burnes of armes þe beres for to seche. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. vi. 186 Let no kynne consail ne couetyse ȝow departe, That on wit and on wil alle ȝoure wardes kepe. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iii. iii. 158 And therefore watche they upon theyr warde. 1546Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 52 Rise with the said Eirle and pay ward and watch with him during the tyme of were. 1563P. Whitehorne Onosandro Platon. 47 Those, whiche shalbe appointed to make the ward, let them go before the Campe,..and make fyres after suche sorte, that they may see those farre of. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xx. 26 [We] gaue to vnderstand too him that had the warde, that the Ambassadour was there. 1649C. Wase Sophocles, Electra 50 Had not I light in the house to keep A faithfull ward. 1697Dryden æneis vi. 750 And dire Tisiphone there keeps the Ward. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. ix. 345 Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly intended of the day time... Watch is properly applicable to the night only. 1778R. Lowth Transl. Isaiah xxi. 8. 51 O my Lord, I keep my station all the day long; And on my ward have I continued every night. 1813Scott Trierm. iii. x, Sounds were heard, as when a guard, Of some proud castle, holding ward, Pace forth their nightly round. 1835Trench Poems, Gibraltar, I..saw thy gallant children to and fro Pace, keeping ward at one of those huge gates.
2. a. gen. Guardianship, keeping, control. Now rare. † out of ward: beyond control, out of hand (obs.).
c1205Lay. 19402 He bitahten him þa warde of alle þissen ærde. a1225Ancr. R. 430 Almihti God, he wite ou in his warde. c1290St. Francis 66 in S. Eng. Leg. 55 Seint Fraunceys nam þat tresor..and in ore louerdes warde it tok. a1300Cursor M. 10342 Ioseph..of egypti was hei stiward, And al þat land had in his ward. c1305St. Swithin 26 in E.E.P. (1862) 44 Wel him wiste þis holi man and god warde to him nom. c1386Chaucer Pars. T. ⁋880 My lord hath take to me vnder my warde al that he hath in this world. c1400Destr. Troy 3709 The two brether were abidyng bothe in a shippe, þat was stird with the storme streght out of warde. c1425Wyntoun Cron. ii. 340 Bot he [Joseph] refoysitt þat curtassy, For þe worschep of his larde, Þat al his gud put in his warde. 1459Paston Lett. I. 495 That fyrst an inventorie be made holye of hys godes and catell..and thayt they be leyd yn sure waard. 1485Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 57 That he kepe you in hys holy warde. 1530Tindale Exod. xii. 6 And ye shall kepe him [sc. the paschal lamb] in warde vntyll the .xiiii. daye of the same moneth. 1756C. Lucas Ess. Waters III. 144 The infant from his birth is overfed..till he is put into his own ward. 1827J. F. Cooper Prairie xiv, Such events as occurred during the ward of Ellen Wade. [A person left in charge of the camp and children.] 1873J. G. Holland A. Bonnicastle xi. 175 Under the conduct and ward of a Shepherd who would lead me only through green pastures.
b. spec. Guardianship of a child, a minor, or other person legally incapable of conducting his affairs. Also, the condition of being subject to a guardian.
c1290Beket 267 in S. Eng. Leg. 114 So muche he caste is heorte on him þat in his warde he let do his eldeste sone sire henri. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6426 King edmond biqueþ Is kinedom & al is lond king knout biuore is deþ, & þe warde of is tueye sones vor te hii of elde were. 1390Gower Conf. I. 345 He..tok this child into his warde. 1444Maldon (Essex) Liber A 32 b, If the children be with in xiiii ȝere age, the moder shall haue the warde of hem tyl thei come to the seide age. 1538Starkey England 186 The faute of bryngyng vp of the nobylyte, wych, for the most parte, are nuryschyd wyt[h]out cure, bothe of theyr parentys being alyfe, and much wers of them in whose ward commynly they dow fal aftur theyr deth. 1709Steele Tatler No. 40 ⁋4 The Law certainly gives these Persons [sc. idiots] into the Ward and Care of the Crown. 1849James Woodman xxxvi, You are in ward to me, and not Lord Calverly. a1901W. Bright Age of Fathers (1903) I. 365 Ecclesiastics were to abstain from visiting widows and heiresses under ward.
c. Feudal Law. The control and use of the lands of a deceased tenant by knight-service, and the guardianship of the infant heir, which belonged to the superior until the heir attained his majority.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 214 Of wardes & relefe þat barons of him held, Þer ne was ore of chefe, tille him no þing suld ȝeld. 1375Barbour Bruce xii. 320 Gif ony deis in this battaill, His air, but ward, releif, or taill, On the first day his land sall weild. 1422Rolls of Parlt. IV. 176/1 All maner Wardes, Mariages, Fermes, and other casueltees. 1461Ibid. V. 473/1 Any Graunte made..of the Warde of Lond and of the body, with the mariage of John Kenne. 1507Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 205/2 Pertenyn to the King be reson of ward throw the said Patrikkis deceis. a1513Fabyan Chron. vii. (1533) 20 A parlyament was holden..where..the lordes and baronye of the lande graunted vnto the kynge and to his heyres kynges, the warde and mariage of theyr heyres. 1601Shakes. All's Well i. i. 5, I must attend his maiesties command, to whom I am now in Ward. 1616A. Rathborne Surveyor 192 The Lord..shall haue the Ward, that is, the custodie and keeping of those lands so holden of him, to his owne vse and behoofe, without account, vntill the heire come to the full age of one and twentie yeares. a1646Sir T. Hope Minor Practicks iv. (1734) 180 The Donatar during the Time of the Ward is in Place of the Master. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. viii. 293 [The statute 17 Edw. II, c. 9] directs..that the king shall have ward of the lands of natural fools, taking the profits without waste or destruction. 1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxvii, My sovereign holds in ward my land. 1878J. Davidson Inverurie ii. 73 Norman de Leslie..held the ward of the estate of Kemnay in 1348.
d. Court of Wards: a court established by Hen. VIII for the trial of causes relating to wardships; subsequently called Court of Wards and Liveries; abolished by Stat. 12 Car. II. cap. 24 (1660). Also, in British India, the title of a court which dealt with cases pertaining to the property of minors. Master of the Wards (and Liveries), the presiding judge of the Court of Wards (1541–1660).
1560B. Googe tr. Palingenius' Zodiac Ep. Ded. (1561), To..Sir William Cecill, Knight,..Master of the Wardes, and Liueries. 1591Lambarde Archeion (1635) 233 The Court of Wards began in our memorie, about 32. yeare of the Raigne of K.H. 8. who also in the next yeare after added thereunto the office of the Master of the Liveries,..ordayning that it should bee called the Court of Wards and Liveries. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. iii. §86 The Lord Say was to be Master of the Wards. 1914Contemp. Rev. Mar. 397 Legal Adviser to Purdanashins under the guardianship of the Court of Wards of Bengal.
3. Care or charge of a prisoner; the condition of being a prisoner; custody, imprisonment. Now rare.
free ward: the condition of being a prisoner with permission to go anywhere within prescribed limits.
The phrase to ward was sometimes written as one word.
c1290St. Katherine 63 in S. Eng. Leg. 94 Maide, he seide, þou schalt abide In warde here mid me. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6619 Gentil men þat he vond in prison ek ydo, Oþer in warde mid vnriȝt, he boȝte hom out al so. c1400Rom. Rose 5856 The olde wyf that [kepeth] so harde Fair-Welcoming within her warde. 1423Jas. I Kingis Q. xxv, In strayte ward and in strong prisoun. 1429Rolls of Parlt. IV. 346/1 That the Keper and Wardeyn of the same Prisone..savely kepe every persone to his warde so commytted. c1460Towneley Myst. xxv. 238 Here haue they soriornyd, noght as thyne, bot in thi wayrd. 1474Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 53 Item gevin to Skrymgeour masare to convoye James Hering to warde, vs. 1546Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 36 Remane in fre waird within ony place the Eirle of Huntlie forsaid pleissis to assign. 1564Ibid. 293 He sall remane in fre ward within the burgh of Edinburgh, and on na wayis depart furth of the samyn. 1565Ibid. 414 He brak his ward furth of oure castell of Edinburgh. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 408 He was attached by the Erle Marshall, and committed toward in the Abbey of Saint Albones. 1578–9Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 66 That Hob Ellot..sould remane and keip his ward with Williame Portarfeild of Duchall, and on nawayis eschaip. 1599in T. Stafford Pac. Hib. i. i. (1633) 11 To bee committed to ward, there to remaine in safe custodie, untill [etc.]. 1611Bible Gen. xl. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captaine of the guard, into the prison. a1614J. Melvill Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.) 267 It was thought best that the first sort sould be chargit to warde; the second apprehendit at unawars and punished. 1637Rutherford Let. to Ld. Craighall 10 Aug., It is easie for you to cast your light into prison,..But that prisoner will break ward to your incomparable torture. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxx, I trust your Grace remembers that you are under ward. Ibid., I have already said your Highness lies in ward here. 1869Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xii. 193 He..kept him in ward two years till he agreed to the hard conditions. 1871Blackie Four Phases i. 148 He remained in ward thirty days, till the sacred ship should return from the Delian festival.
†4. Charge, duty entrusted to one; office. Obs.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 149 We þre haf þe ward of God & our ladie, Þe schippes of kyng Richard to kepe & ȝow þam bie. c1460J. Russell Bk. Nurture 1193 Þerto let hym take good hede, and his warde wayte wisely.
†5. Care, regard. In phrases, to have no ward of, not to regard, not to fear; no ward, no matter (if, how). Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 11637 Moder, he said, haf þou na ward, Noþer o leon ne o lepard. Ibid. 20705 Ne has na ward of na juu For i self ai wel be wit ȝow. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5011 He wende of þeym haue hed no warde, Bot hym fel þer a chek ful harde. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 24 For haue þei here myrþe and iolite, no warde to hem hou faste þe woluys of helle wirien cristen soulis & beren hem to helle. Ibid. 72 Ȝif mennus soulis gon to helle bi brekynge of goddis comaundementis no warde, so þat þe peny come faste to fille here hondis & coffris.
II. A person who is ‘in ward’ (see 2).
6. a. A minor under the control of a guardian. Also Sc. † ward-minor.
In Feudal Law the term (AF. garde) was applied spec. to an heir or heiress whose person and lands after the father's death were held ‘in ward’ (see 2 c) by the superior during his or her minority.
ward in Chancery, ward of court: a minor for whom a guardian has been appointed by the Court of Chancery, or who has become directly subject to the authority of that Court.
1433Rolls of Parlt. IV. 441/2 To the Kyng..louly compleynes..your Warde John Duc of Norffolk. c1440Alphabet of Tales 285 He..servid a wurthi prince: & he made hym a knyght and gaff hym a warde, a grete gentylwomman, vnto his wyfe. 1470–85Malory Arthur v. xi. 180 In that stoure was syr Chestelayne a chyld and ward of syre Gawayne slayne. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. 66 In lamentyng the miserye of wardeshyppes I might saie it is not for noughte so communely said, I wil handle you like a warde. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 103 This cause did not concerne the Marques George only, but also his nephewe Albert, whiche was his worde [L. cuius erat tutor]. 1604T. Wright Passions iv. ii. 126, I thinke the punishment meetest for them, should be, that it were lawfull to beg them for Wardes, and giue them tutors, because they lacke discretion to vse their money. a1656Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 30 Sr Walter Leveson..leaves his young Orphan Ward to the King. 1731Kames Decis. Crt. Sess. 1730–52 (1799) 5 It was objected..that..the aliment of her infant-children was a proper burden upon herself, as being their mother, and liferentrix of their whole estate, which is provided by act of parliament in case of ward-minors, and extended by practice and analogy to other fiars. 1741Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 84 Here,..said she, here is your pretty ward and mine; let us try to make her time with us easy. 1790Stevens v. Savage in Eng. Rep. (1903) XXX. 277 Stevens having been committed for a contempt, by having married Miss Jeffry, a ward of the Court. 1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xxvi, This youth, though still a royal ward, Risqued life and land to be my guard. 1814― Ld. of Isles vi. ix, Then, 'twas her Liege's strict command, And she, beneath his royal hand, A ward in person and in land. 1815H. Maddock Treat. Princ. & Pract. High Court of Chancery I. ii. 264 If a Child, a Ward of Court, would not be safe, the Chancellor would not permit it to go to Scotland. 1837Dickens Pickw. lvii, Mr. Snodgrass..had been in his minority a ward of Mr. Pickwick's. 1837C. Selby (title) The Irish Dragoon; or, Wards in Chancery. 1842Tennyson Locksley Hall 156, I was left a trampled orphan, and a selfish uncle's ward. 1853Dickens Bleak Ho. viii, He is a ward in Chancery, my dear. 1870H. Smart Race for Wife ii, Grenville Rose had been brought up a great deal with his cousin Maud, being, indeed, a ward of Denison's. 1875A. H. Simpson Treat. Law & Pract. Infants viii. 145 The general rule of the Court is that a ward of Court may not be removed out of the jurisdiction. 1928A. Bicknell Law & Pract. Infants iv. 89 To remove a ward of Court from the jurisdiction without proper leave is contempt of Court. 1977Jersey Even. Post 26 July 13/4 If the children were allowed to leave, they could be made wards of Court and could find themselves in a position similar to that of the recent ‘tug of love’ children.
b. transf. One who is under the protection or control of another.
a1435Torr. Portugal 1351 Than said the kyng: ‘I vnderstond, Thou hast fought for my doughter & my lond, And art my ward, i-wys. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 116 b, The Prince and his heires males, shall holde the Dukedome of Wirtemberge of kyng Ferdinando as Archeduke of Austriche, and so tobe his wardes and clientes. 1593Nashe Christ's T. I 3 b, [Mother to her infant son] Nere shall the Romains haue thee for theyr Warde. 1600Marston, etc. Jack Drums Entert. i. (1601) B 3, When being maried to a wise man (O the Lord) You are made a foole, a Ward, curbd and controlld. 1653Milton Hirelings Wks. 1851 V. 373 For the Magistrate in Person of a nursing Father to make the Church is meer Ward, as always in Minority,..is neither just nor pious. 1659F. Osborn Miscell. Ess. etc. 166 So that, instead of being a Ward,..you shall be Guardian of the Person and Estate of your Husband. 1848Dickens Dombey iii, With these words, Susan Nipper..made a charge at her young ward, and swept her out of the room.
†7. An orphan under age. Obs.
1559Mirr. Mag., Dk. York iii, When her brother Edmund died a warde, She was sole hayer by due discent of line. a1577Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. (1609) 109 A Ward or Infant is taken for a child in base age, whose Father is dead. 1577tr. Bullinger's Decades ii. v. (1592) 156 In the same sort also there are here commanded vnto vs, widdowes, Orphans, wardes, poore men. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. v. 42 His Sonne was but a Ward two yeares agoe.
III. Defence.
8. a. Fencing. A defensive posture or movement; a mode of parrying. Cf. guard n. 3.
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. xi. §8 He..strake so thicke vpon Amphialus, as if euery blow would faine haue bene foremost. But Amphialus..let passe the storme with strong wardes, and nimble auoidings. 1589[see porr n. 2]. c1590Greene Fr. Bacon iv. iii. 1812, 1 Scholler. Ah, well thrust! 2 Scholler. But marke the ward. 1595Saviolo's Practise i. F 2, With this readinesse must hee strike this reuerso, but withall, his lefte hand must bee vppon the warde of his teacher. Ibid. K 1, When you lie in this warde, and make vppon your enemie towardes his right side. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 215 (Q. 1598) Thou knowest my olde warde: here I lay, and thus I bore my poynt. 1599G. Silver Paradoxes of Def. Wks. (1898) 26 All single weapons haue foure wardes, and all double weapons haue eight wardes. The single sword hath two with the point vp, and two with the point downe. Ibid. 34 The Dagger is an imperfect ward, although borne out straight. 1640Wits Recreat. E 1, On a Souldier. The souldier fights well, and with good regard, But when hee's lame, he lies at an ill ward. 1652Urquhart Jewel 88 He alters his wards from Tierce to Quart. 1810Scott Lady of L. v. xv, Fitz-James's blade was sword and shield. He practised every pass and ward.
b. fig. Now arch.
1581G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 135 b, So these poore women..come to the amourous incounter with one, and with an other: but at length being driuen from their warde, they ly so open that they are soone venued. 1604T. Wright Passions vi. 337 Will not so many warnings of death, iudgment,..sufficiently stirre vs vp to stand vpon our warde? 1619in Eng. & Germany (Camden) 197 Otherwise they would long ere this have brought the deciding of their case to the greate assise of a day of battell, which hath bene their ancient and ever happy ward against their oppressors. 1622Massinger & Dekker Virg. Mart. ii. i. D 1 b, I lay at my old ward of lechery. 1643Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §55. 124 To perfect vertue..there is required a..compleat armour, that whilst we lye at close ward against one vice we lye [not] open to the vennie of another. 1647May Hist. Parl. Pref. 2 For against the unexpected stroke of partiall history the ward is not so ready, as against that Polemike writing where [etc.]. 1863G. J. Whyte-Melville Gladiators xxii, Duplicity was no new effort for the Tribune. He had often, ere now, betaken himself to this mode of defence when driven to his last ward. 1892Stevenson In South Seas iii. v. (1900) 248 He hastily returned to his old ward. ‘I don't deny I could if I wanted,’ said he.
†c. Defence, protection, shelter. Obs.
1582T. Watson Centurie of Love xxiv, The beames, which then proceeded from her face Were such, as for the same I found no warde. 1697Dryden æneis i. 691 In their right Hands a pointed Dart they wield; The left, for Ward, sustains the Lunar Shield.
†d. Chess. ? The protection afforded by a specified piece or pawn. Obs. rare—1.
c1450Treat. Chess (MS. Ashm. 344) lf. 3 b, Chek wt thy Roke in thy Pon Ward. Ibid. 17 b, Then check wt thy Roke in thy knyghts warde.
9. Scots Law. Tenure by military service, ward-holding: sometimes quasi-adv. in to hold ward = ‘to hold in ward’ (see hold v. 6, 19 b). Also, a payment in commutation of military service; more explicitly taxed ward (see taxed ppl. a. 2 c), in contradistinction to simple ward or black ward. Now only Hist. Cf. castle-guard 2, 3, castle-ward 2.
The lawyers connected this sense with sense 2 c, as if ‘to hold land in ward’ meant to hold it subject to the lord's right to ‘ward’ when the heir was a minor.
1508Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 271/1 Landis..haldin of the kingis hienes be service of ward and releyf. 1530Ibid. II. 66/1 His landis within our realme that wer haldin of us be service of ward and releiff to Archibald Douglas. 1578Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 693 All altering of haldingis blanche quhilk of befoir wees haldin ward. 1642Sir T. Hope Diary (Bannatyne Club) 176 A neu commissioun, for changing of ward in few, both of lands haldin off the King and Prince. 1684Sir G. Mackenzie Inst. Laws Scot. ii. iv. (1694) 71 Some Lands hold Ward, some Feu, some Blench, and some Burgage. 1892J. A. Henderson Ann. Lower Deeside 59 The king [c 1680] in changing the holding of the lands from simple ward to taxed ward took occasion [etc.].
†10. Sc. ward and warsel: security, pledge.
a1600Aberdeen Reg. (MS.) XXIV. (Jam.), To remane wpoun his ward and warsall. Ibid., He tuik nothyr ward nor wersell of the said claith. 1768Ross Helenore 25 E'en sit you still, an' rest you here wi' me, An' I shall ward an' warsel for you be.
IV. A body of guards.
11. A company of watchmen or guards. Cf. guard n. 9. Now rare.
c1000ælfric Judg. Epil., Þa Iudeiscan..besetton his [sc. Christ's] birᵹene sona mid wearde. 13..K. Alis. 1976 (Laud MS.), Þer þai telden her pauyloune Þat niȝth & hem resteþ þare Mid warde þat was good & war. [Lincoln's Inn MS. With wardes, bothe gode and warre.] c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5085 He dide sette in wardes seers, Knyghte to wachem, & squiers. 1382Wyclif Jer. li. 12 Vp on the wallis of Babilon rereth a tocne, eecheth the warde [Vulg. augete custodiam]. 1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 483/2 Miles stationarius,..one of the watch or ward. 1605Famous Hist. Stukeley E ij, Bid the Seriant Maior shut the gates, And see them guarded with a double ward. 1805Scott Last Minstr. iii. xxx, Was frequent heard the changing guard, And watch-word from the sleepless ward. 1870J. R. MacDuff Mem. Patmos xx. 276 Twenty-four wards or companies were appointed night by night to guard the various entrances to the sacred courts.
†12. A garrison. Obs.
c1500Melusine xxiv. 170 Thenne þey recouered there six of theire galeyes,..and lefte in it good wardes [Fr. gardes] for to kepe them. 1586Hooker Chron. Irel. 160/2 in Holinshed, This house of Asketten is a verie strong castell,..and the chiefest house of the earles, wherein he had a strong ward. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. xi. 15 On th' other side, th' assieged Castles ward Their stedfast stonds did mightily maintaine. 1596― State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 664/2, I will have..some of them be putt in wardes, upon all the straytes thereaboutes. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. ii. 97 There were planted little forts with wardes..to restraine the inroades of prey taking robbers. a1660Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) II. 102 Carrige beinge betrayed by the Protestant warde there.
†13. One of the three main divisions of an army, the van, the rear, and the middle or ‘main battle’. Also sometimes applied gen. to any division led by a subordinate commander. Obs.[Orig. a use of the second element in the compounds avantward (vanward, vaward) and arrearward (rearward) adopted from OF. In these compounds the OF. warde meant ‘guard’, and so was applicable only to the bodies placed in the front and rear. In English, on the analogy of vanward (also first ward, foreward) and rearward (also hinder ward), the term middle ward, middleward, came to be used for the ‘main battle’, and thus ward acquired the sense above defined.] 13..K. Alis. 1995 (Laud MS.), Sendeþ ymagu wyt ȝoure standard And Archillaus in þe first ward. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 4046, 4050 Nestor þe duke schal in þe firste ward Metyn with hym... Þe bridde warde Pelleus schal lede. Ibid. iii. 3401 Þer cam with hem þe kyng Machaoun, And alderlaste þe grete Agamenoun, With alle her wardis, & fel in sodeynly Vp-on Troyens. c1430Syr Generides (Roxb.) 3771 Now wendeth this ost in wardes ten Ful wel araied with noble men. c1450Merlin xviii. 286 Than com Gaheries with his warde of iijM1 goode men. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 119 And eche pryncehode ys departed in thre orders, as in thre wardes. [Cf. ante. As an hooste in batayle ys departed in thre, that ys to saye, the forwarde, the mydel warde, and the rerewarde.] 1513Douglas æneis xii. ix. 113 Apon this wys the ostis and wardis haill On athir part returnyt in bataill. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xxxix. 22 b, Thus they went forthe in thre great batayls: the marshalles and the Almaygnes had the first, the kynge of Englande in the myddle warde, & the duke of Brabant in the rerewarde. Ibid. xlv. 25 b, In the mornyng they aproched in thre wardes. 1524Pace Let. to Hen. VIII 5 Aug. in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) I. ii. 21 Four & twenty great peaces of Artillerie..dayly foloing us in the hinder ward. 1563P. Whitehorne Onosandro Platon. 126 b, And after the first warde, cause the seconde, to succeede, and the thyrde next the same, and the fourth, and the fifte also, if so many shall nede. c1585Fair Em v. i. 6 See all our men be martialed for the fight. Dispose the Wardes as lately was deuised. 1587Holinshed Chron. III. 980/2 The fore-ward foremost, the battell in the middest, the rere-ward hindermost, ech ward hauing his troope of horssemen and gard of ordinance. 1656Harrington Oceana Wks. (1700) 171 But as to the peculiar Policy, of twelve Manipuls or Wards, divided into three Cohorts, each Cohort containing four Wards.
V. Place for guarding.
14. In a fortress:
†a. The portion of the defences entrusted to a particular officer or division of the garrison. Obs.
†b. A guarded entrance. Obs.
c. The (inner or outer) circuit of the walls of a castle; the ground between two encircling walls. Obs. exc. arch.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8301 A maister þat was wiþinne sende to þe erl beumond To ȝelde vp is warde to ben hol & sound. Ar his felawes were iwar he ȝeld him vp þere Þre toures of þe cite þat in is warde were. 1340Hampole Pr. C. 9087 Bot þa wardes of þe ceté of heven, Er mare crafty and strang þan any kan neven. 1375Barbour Bruce xvii. 349 Till thar wardis thai went in hy, That war stuffit richt stalwardly With stanys, schot, and other thing. c1400Rom. Rose 3191 The lady of the high warde [Fr. la dame de la haute garde] Which from hir tour lokide thiderward. c1400Beryn 238 The knyȝt [tho] with his meyne went to se the wall, And þe wardes of the town, as to a knyȝt be-fall. c1400Sowdone Bab. 332 He entred to the maister Toure. The firste warde thus thay wonne. 1423Rolls of Parlt. IV. 199/1 [He] made assaute to the said Castell, and wan the said warde. c1425Cursor M. 9894 (Trin. MS.) Bailyes haþ þis castel þre Wiþ feire wardes [Cott. & Gött. walles] semely to se. c1440Jacob's Well 222 As þou hast v. watyrgatys in þe vttere-warde, owtward in þe pytt of þi body... Ryȝt, so, þou hast v. watyrgatys in þe indere-warde of þi soule. 1485Rolls of Parlt. VI. 384/1 The Offices of Keping of the Keys of th' ynerward of oure Castell of Wyndesore. c1500Melusine xix. 62 Soone was the Fortres made up not only with one warde but two strong wardes. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxvi. (Percy Soc.) 116 And therwith all he ledde me to his warde, Me to repose in pleasaunt due saufgard. 1530Palsgr. 234/1 Inderwarde of a castell, cengle de chastel. Ibid. 250/1 Outterwarde of a castell, courtbasse. 1584Sir R. Sadler St. Papers (1809) III. 171 The strength of this howse, having two wards, the gentleman porter ever at the one with 4 or 5 in his company, and dyvers soldyers at the other. 1649G. Daniel Trinarch. To Rdr. 209 Euery hand Of accident doth wth a Picker stand, To scale the wards of Life. 1808Scott Marm. i. iv, Then to the Castle's lower ward Sped forty yeomen tall. 1813― Rokeby iii. xxvii, Then, vain were battlement and ward! 1843Ainsworth Windsor Castle iv. iii, Just as they entered the lower ward. Ibid., The party directed their course towards the middle ward.
transf.1513Douglas æneis vi. vii. 7 In the first circil, or the vtir ward, Ȝoung babbeis saulis weping sor thai hard. Ibid. viii. 4 And sone thai wer in cumin to the plane And lattir wardis, quhairin dois remane Vailȝeant folkis in feild and chevalry.
†15. An appointed station, post (for a body of soldiers). Obs.
1375Barbour Bruce xvii. 349 Quhen that thai saw That menȝe raynge thame swa on raw, Till thar wardis thai went in hy. Ibid. 627 Engynys alsua for till cast Thai ordanit and maid redy fast, And set ilk man syne till his ward. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxi. 463 They wente to their warde to defende the towne.
†16. within one's ward: within the region in which one is safe: in quot. fig. Also, within (another's) ward: in the region controlled by (another). Obs.
1490Caxton Eneydos xvii. 66 The fyne louer that alwayes kepeth hym selfe wythin his warde, and fyndeth noo thynge soo sure but that he putteth it in adoubte, can not be lyghtely deceyued. 1556T. Phaer æneid iv. (1558) K j, What meanes he? why remaines he thus within his enemies ward?
17.
†a. A prison (cf. sense 3). Obs.
b. Each of the divisions or separate departments of a prison.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 278 Opon þe toþer dai Edward þider cam, Þe prisons..Were brouht him bifore, þre erles þre barons, & mo be fiue score kynghtes & lordes of touns, Þise were in his wardes, & auht & tuenti mo. 1535Coverdale Isa. xxiv. 22 These shalbe coupled together as prisoners be, and shalbe shut in one warde and punished innumerable daies. 1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist., Euseb. ii. xii. 15 Thus Iohn, because of Herods suspicion, was sent bounde to Machærous the warde..and there beheaded. 1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. 710 Thus Fire, desirous to break forth again From's cloudy Ward, cannot itself refrain. 1602Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 252 A goodly [prison], in which there are many Confines, Wards, and Dungeons. 1614J. Cooke Greene's Tu Quoque I 1 b, Be plaine with him, and turne him out o' th Ward. Ibid., Hold. If you haue no monie, You'd best remoue into some cheaper Ward. Spend. What Ward should I remoue in? Hold. Why to the Two-pennie Ward. 1675R. Burthogge Causa Dei 68 Nor is Hell a Sheriffs Ward, in which the Debtor is Imprisoned till he pay his Debt. 1780J. Howard State of Prisons App. 125 The new gaol has separate wards and courts for debtors. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxxiii, ‘What the devil's noise is this in the ward?’ he said—‘What! man and woman together in the same cell?’ 1825Macaulay Ess., Milton, Once more, compare the lazar-house in the eleventh book of the Paradise Lost with the last ward of Malebolge in Dante. 1836Dickens Sk. Boz, Visit to Newgate, The buildings in the prison, or in other words the different wards, form a square. 1894Lady M. Verney Verney Mem. III. 150 Tom..could not face the horrors of the common wards [of the Fleet prison].
18. a. An apartment or division in a hospital or lunatic asylum, containing a certain number of beds, or allocated to a particular class of patients.
1749Smollett Gil Blas xi. vii. (1782) IV. 171, I walked through two or three wards full of sick people a-bed. 1758J. S. tr. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 207 He was lodged in the Fever Ward. 1842Dickens Amer. Notes vi, The different wards [of the lunatic asylum] might have been cleaner and better ordered. 1850L. Hunt Autobiog. I. iii. 102 The wards, or sleeping-rooms [in Christ's Hospital], are twelve. 1881Encycl. Brit. XII. 305/2 No cooking should be done in the wards. 1961R. Shaw Sun Doctor I. i. 47 She looked at the two main wards of the hospital—long low rooms divided into cubicles like an old dormitory in an English public school. 1975I. Illich Medical Nemesis vi. 111 Ailments had to be turned into objective diseases. Species had to be clinically defined..so that officials could fit them into wards. 1982B. Trapido Brother of More Famous Jack xlvii. 193, I was required, during the first three months, to spend occasional week-long spells in hospital in a special ward for the observation of problem pregnancies.
b. The patients in a ward, collectively.
1768Foote Devil iii. Wks. 1799 II. 277 Yesterday..we bled the west ward, and jalloped the north.
19. a. An administrative division of a borough or city; originally, a district under the jurisdiction of an alderman; now usually, a district which elects its own councillors to represent it on the City or Town Council. Also, the people of such a district collectively.
In Anglo-L. documents the wards (wardæ) of London are mentioned by that name from the 12th c., sometimes designated by the name of the alderman and sometimes by their locality. An occasional synonym was custodia.[c1130in 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. (1883) 66 In warda Osberti Drinkepinne, terra quam tenuit Wulwinus juvenis. 1226–7in Madox Hist. Exch. (1711) 489 note, Tallagium Wardarum Londoniæ, quod colligi debet per Aldermannos subscriptos: Willelmus filius Benedicti re de L l., de Custodia fori. 1229–30Ibid. 490 note, Willelmus filius Benedicti re de xxxv marcis, de Warda fori. 1275in Rotuli Hundred. (1812) I. 403 Warda de Bassingeshol. Ibid. 418 Warda Symonis de Hadestok.] 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. Prol. 94 Somme seruen þe kyng and his siluer tellen, In cheker and in chancerye chalengen his dettes Of wardes and wardmotes, weyues and streyues. 1427in Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) 4 Conyhoope-lane in the Warde of Chepe. 1433Rolls of Parlt. IV. 425/2 Every Parisshe or Warde, desolate, wastud, [etc.]. a1513Fabyan Chron. vii. (1533) 28 b, The sayde Iohn Mansell chargyd the mayre, that euery Alderman in hys warde shulde vppon the morowe folowyng assemble hys wardemote, [etc.]. 1518Sel. Cases Star Chamb. (Selden Soc.) II. 127 Within v wardes of the same Towne..ther hath byn v Cunstables that is to say in euery ward oon. 1588W. Smith Brief Descr. Lond. (MS. Harl. 6363) lf. 13 There is also The Wardmote Enquest, Chosen euery St. Thomas day, in euery ward a quest. c1590Sir T. More ii. iv. 226 We meete at the Guildehall and there determine That thorow euery warde the watche be clad In armour. 1598–1603Stow Surv. (1908) I. 117 The Auncient diuision of this Cittie was into Wardes or Aldermanries. 1603Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. i. 281 They do you wrong to put you so oft vpon 't [sc. the office of constable]. Are there not men in your Ward sufficient to serue it? 1631Gouge God's Arrows v. xix. 432 London should have as many Artillery Gardens, as it hath Wards. a1700Evelyn Diary 6 May 1645, Rome..is divided into 14 Regions or Wards. 1715Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) II. 72 In the Ward [It. regione] of the Temple of Peace, stood a Colossus. 1733Swift On Poetry 286 In ev'ry Street a City-bard Rules, like an Alderman his Ward. 1751Engl. Gazetteer I. s.v. St. Albans, There are four wards here, in each of which are a constable, and two church-wardens. 1824G. Chalmers Caledonia III. vi. 569 By an act of Parliament, in 1800, for regulating the police of Glasgow, that city was divided into wards. 1854Lowell Camb. 30 Yrs. Ago Pr. Wks. 1890 I. 94, I would rather have had that slow, conscientious vote of P.'s alone, than to have been chosen Alderman of the Ward! 1863Cox Instit. iii. ix. 730 Large boroughs are divided into wards, which elect their councillors severally.
b. An administrative division of the Mormon Church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
1859Mountaineer (Salt Lake City) 27 Aug. 2/4 If the water-masters of our district or ward will see that we have a double portion of water during the ensuing week for our garden, we will now agree not to mention them again. 1925M. R. Werner Brigham Young xii. 422 The bishop was in charge of all the families of his ward. 1979M. P. Leone Roots Mod. Mormonism ii. 36 Wards average about seven hundred people.
20. In Cumberland, Northumberland, and some Scottish counties: One of the administrative districts into which these counties were formerly divided.
1431Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 43/2 Alex. of Cragy serjand of fee wythin the Myddyll Ward of Edynburgh. 1495Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 216 Johne Hepburne of the Est Ward of Edinburgh. 1496Ibid. 312 The Upper Ward of Clydesdale. 15..Peblis to the Play 185 (Maitland Fol.) Iohne niksoun of ye nether warde. 1832Act 2 & 3 Will. IV c. 64 §15 Such Northern Division shall include..the several wards of Bamborough, Coquetdale, Glendale, and Morpeth. 1864G. V. Irving & A. Murray (title) The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire described and delineated. 1872E. W. Robertson Hist. Ess. 120 The Ward or Quarter still represents the highest subdivision of the county. 1882Jamieson, Ward 3. Lanarkshire is divided into Upper, Middle and Lower Wards.
†21.
a. ‘A part or division of a Forrest’ (Phillips 1671). App. only Sc. Obs.
1425Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1426, 11/1 The offyce off maistrischip off our ward of Yarrow lyand wythin our saide forest. [1485: see over-ward n.] 1509Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 285/1 The forest stedis of Cawdanle [etc.] liand within the forest of Ettrik and warde of Twede. a1884J. Russell Remin. Yarrow ix. (1894) 233 About the same time the Forest was divided into three ‘wards,’ that of Tweed, Yarrow, and Ettrick. Each ward had a ranger, who collected the rents [etc.].
b. Sc. ‘A small piece of pasture ground, inclosed on all sides, generally appropriated to young quadrupeds’ (Jam.).
1473Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 173 The sade tenandis sal kepe thar self..out of hanyngis, treys, stankis, parkis, medows and wardis. 1657Melrose Regality Rec. (S.H.S.) I. 146 Cutting and destroying of thair riges of brome that is growand in the wairds and aikers of Melrois. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Bannatyne Club) I. 139 The countrie lords..sent out their horses and destroyed both grass and corn, fed where they pleased in the bishop's waird. a1673Mare of Collingtoun in Watson's Coll. i. (1706) 49 Within the Ward I might have clos'd thee, Where well thou mightest have repos'd thee, Amang the Laird's best Fillies. 1785Calf-ward [see calf1 7 b]. 1799Rec. Elgin (New Spalding Club) I. 210 A piece of ground full of sandbanks and covered with whins..as a common for the several proprietors taking sand to make up their wairds and cattails.
†22. ? A store-cupboard or wardrobe. Obs.
a1529Skelton Agst. Garnesche iii. 53 Your drapry ȝe ded wante, The warde with yow was skante. c1550Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 75 Nature semeth to haue layd them [sc. gold and silver] vpp in a farder warde then her other guyftes.
VI. An appliance for guarding.
†23. The part of the hilt of a sword that protects the hand: = guard n. 16 b. Obs.
1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 147 The hilts [of Persian swords] are without ward.
24. a. Each of the ridges projecting from the inside plate of a lock, serving to prevent the passage of any key the bit of which is not provided with incisions of corresponding form and size. b. Each of the incisions in the bit of a key, corresponding to the ‘wards’ of the lock. Cf. step-ward, step n.1 18.
In untechnical (literary and popular) use these applications are sometimes reversed, the word being taken to denote the cavities of the lock or the solid parts of the key.
a.c1440Promp. Parv. 516/1 Warde, of a lokke, tricatura. 1530Palsgr. 286/2 Warde of a locke, garde. 1536MS. Rawl. D. 780 lf. 59 Mending of a lock and makyng new wardes for the gentlemen hushers chambre. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 303 The lockes betweene her chamber and his will, Ech one by him inforst retires his ward. 1615R. Cocks Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 10 He thought to have pickt the lock of my money chist the other day, and had so wrong the wardes that I could not open the lock with my key. 1644Sir E. Dering Prop. Sacr., c iiij b, As if it were a false ward against the key. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 877 Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key..she took;..then in the key-hole turns Th' intricate wards. 1677Moxon Mech. Exerc. ii. 21 There are several Inventions in Locks..in the making and contriving their Wards, or Guards. 1725Pope Odyss. xxi. 49 The wards respondent to the key turn round. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. vi, Withdrawing from the wards a ponderous key of about two feet in length. 1893Patmore Relig. Poetæ 47 The key is not the less a key because it will not open a lock the wards of which are filled with stones. 1911J. Ward Roman Era Brit. xiii. 237 To render this difficult or impossible, obstructions or wards were introduced into the case [of the lock], which could not be passed by the bitt unless it had corresponding slits or openings.
fig.1647Trapp Comm. Rom. xiv. 1 (1656) 650 Wring not mens consciences: you may hap to break the wards, if you do. 1840Landor Fra Rupert ii. vi, My hand at last [may] Turn in their golden wards the keys of heaven. 1851Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. ii. 319 The key, O Tuscans, too well fits the wards! Ye asked for mimes,—these bring you tragedies. 1920Masefield Enslaved, etc. 118 The wards of life slipt back and set him free From cares of meat and dress.
b.1390Gower Conf. II. 189 The wardes of the cherche keie Thurgh mishadlinge ben myswreynt. 1655Marquis of Worcester Cent. Inv. §44 A Key of a Chamber-door, which..hath its Wards and Rose-pipe but Paper-thick. 1677Moxon Mech. Exerc. ii. 26 File the wards or slits in the Bit with thin files. 1688R. Holme Armoury iii. 301/2 The Wards are all the nicks in the Bite [of the Key]. c1705Pope Jan. & May 510 She took the wards in wax before the fire, And gave th' impression to the trusty squire. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxiv, The incidents of a narrative of this kind must be adapted to each other, as the wards of a key must tally accurately with those of the lock to which it belongs. 1853Dickens Bleak Ho. xlii, ‘Oh! I knew that, did I?’ says Mr. Tulkinghorn, examining the wards of the key. 1864Boutell Her. Hist. & Pop. xxi. (ed. 3) 359 Two keys, in saltire, wards towards the base, or.
c. transf. Applied to mechanical contrivances resembling the wards of a lock or key.
1599T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 35 [To an ‘artificial flea’:] Thy cogs, thy wardes, thy laths, how didst thou lay. 1852Seidel Organ 40 Whilst the upper part is sinking the wards open and let the wind pass from the bellows into the principal trunk.
VII. 25. attrib. and Comb.: a. Simple attrib. (sense 19 a), ward-alderman, ward boss (U.S.), ward committee, ward committeeman, ward meeting, ward politics, ward politician, ward pump, ward school, ward statesman, ward system; (sense 18), ward clerk, ward-keeper, ward matron, ward nurse, ward sister, ward table, ward work; (sense 19 b), ward teacher; (sense 24) ward-hole, ward-plate.
1899Athenæum 21 Oct. 548/3 London, however, was destined to be ruled..by a council of mayor and *ward-aldermen.
1890T. Roosevelt Wks. (1926) XIV. 110 Many forces..combine to produce the *ward boss, the district heeler, the boodle alderman. 1908Sat. Rev. 8 Feb. 163/2 The blackmailing ward⁓boss.
1964G. L. Cohen What's Wrong with Hospitals? iii. 52 *Ward clerks will relieve Sisters of paper work.
1807Salmagundi 2 June 212 The secretaries of the *ward committees strut about looking like wooden oracles. 1922C. E. Merriam Amer. Party System 71 Each of the forty-eight Ward Committees [in Philadelphia]..chooses two members of the City Committee.
Ibid. 70 Each of the thirty-five wards [in Chicago] elects by direct vote of the party in a primary a *ward committeeman for a term of four years. 1976Honolulu Star-Bull. 21 Dec. a–11/3 He knew the workings of the ward committeemen, who directed the precinct captains and stood ready to see that the garbage of the faithful voters was picked up and the potholes in their streets were filled.
1911J. Ward Roman Era Brit. 237 Many of these keys have ‘island’ *ward-holes.
1836J. M. Gully Magendie's Formul. (ed. 2) 127 Each *ward-keeper of hospitals should be provided with a bottle of chlorine water.
1886Daily News 26 Mar. 5/2 Family prayers are conducted by the *ward-matron, sister, or nurse.
1813Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 229 A general call of *ward-meetings by their wardens on the same day through the State.
1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 414 The others [i.e. patients] were easily controlled by the *ward nurses.
1883Pitt-Rivers Primitive Locks & Keys 24 A modern English latch-key..furnished with a *ward-plate.
[1807Salmagundi 24 Feb. 68 He however maintained as mysterious a countenance as a seventh ward politician.] 1860Harper's Mag. June 94/2 ‘A house⁓breaker or a *ward politician,’ thought I. 1976National Observer (U.S.) 1 May b5/1 In the emerging big cities, ward politicians held control of school systems for a time in the late Nineteenth Century.
1883Century Mag. Aug. 581/2 He had been a little alarmed at the sudden irruption of such men as Farnham and his associates into the field of *ward politics. 1957Ward politics [see poker-game s.v. poker n.4 b].
1844Disraeli Coningsby v. iv, Two of the Rigbyites met in the market-place... ‘Well, how goes it?’ said one. ‘I have been the rounds. The blunts going like the *ward-pump.’
1818Niles' Reg. XIV. 174/1 Neither the people, nor their representatives, would agree to the plan of assessment on the wards for the expenses of the *ward schools. 1904G. S. Porter Freckles 15 They sent me out to the nearest ward school as long as the law would let them.
1918H. Matthews in Murdoch & Drake-Brockman Austral. Short Stories (1951) 244 ‘She be a pretty one—the *ward sister,’ a Tommy patient said to him one evening. 1980J. O'Faolain No Country for Young Men iv. 94 ‘Good night now, Aunt Judith.’ Grainne summoned a ward sister's authoritative manner.
1885Atlantic Monthly Apr. 467/1 These roadways..the *ward statesman regards with tender solicitude as furnishing a large..field of operations in the line of contracts.
1857J. T. Smith Parish ii. (ed. 2) 61 It is the adoption of Townships, or the adaptation of the *Ward system, that is really needed in such cases.
1878J. H. Beadle Western Wilds xxi. 332 The *ward teachers had reported every case of real or supposed heresy.
1888H. Morten Hospital Life 2 *Ward work commences at seven with sweeping, dusting, making beds.
b. Special comb.: ward aide, a person employed to do non-medical work in a hospital ward; ward-book, a register of admissions to a hospital; ward-dyke, a wall enclosing or bounding a ward (sense 21 b); also, a defensive dyke against water; ward-fire Orkney and Shetland, a beacon-fire [ON. varða cairn: cf. ward-hill]; † ward-guard Sc., a protective covering or receptacle for clothes; ward-heeler U.S. (see quot. 1890; cf. heeler1 5); ward-heeling a. U.S., pertaining to, engaged in, or designating, the activities of a ward-heeler; ward-land Sc., land held ‘in ward’ (see ward-holding); ward-like adv., after the manner of a ward; ward(s)maid, a maidservant who performs the menial offices of a hospital ward; † ward marriage (see marriage 5), in Scots feudal law, the right in wardholding arising to the ward superior on the marriage of the vassal's heir or on his becoming marriageable; wardmaster, (a) Dutch Hist. (rendering Du. wijkmeester), an alderman or administrator of a city ward; (b) the master or superintendent of a hospital ward; ward orderly, a person employed to assist nurses in a hospital ward; ward round, a visit paid by a doctor, or by a group of doctors and medical students, to each of the in-patients in a ward or wards, or under the care of a particular doctor; cf. round n.1 15; † ward-silver, a payment to the lord in commutation of military service; † ward-staff (see quot. 1610); ward-vassal, in Scots feudal law, a vassal holding land ‘in ward’ (see ward-holding); † ward-ware, ? ‘wardrobe stuff’, articles of clothing; ward-woman arch., a tirewoman, a woman in charge of her mistress's wardrobe; † ward-word, a ‘word’ of defence; a reply to an attack or ‘watch-word’ of an opponent. Also ward-corn, ward-fee, ward-hill, etc.
1965Nursing Times 5 Feb. 172/2 Ten hospitals in the Manchester region have been authorized by the RHB to employ *ward aides. 1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 20 June 2-c/1 She is employed as a ward aide at Billings Deaconess Hospital.
1557Order of Hospitalls G ij b, That no Child be receved by them, before the name of the same childe be entred into the *Ward-booke. 1836J. Paget Let. 10 Jan. in Mem. & Lett. Sir James Paget (1901) i. iv. 66 The active new apothecary..cures the patients. The ward-books hardly know themselves, the Mistura Cascarillæ bottle stopper sticks from disuse, and Emplastrum Lyttæ is never mentioned. 1977Lancet 7 May 975/2 The allocation of the patients was done automatically by the ward nurse (by reference to the ward book).
1561in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. 1585, 256/2 Fra the said croft north..to the brig of Balgonie, ewin to the *ward-dyk of the Brig-feildis now pertening to Alex. Paip. 1602Ibid. 474/1 Ane merchestane infixit in the waird-dyke standand beneth the place of Kirktounhill. 1854Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XV. i. 19 Crests, cradges, and ward-dykes constructed to hold off fen-waters from inned grounds.
1859D. Balfour Oppress. Orkney & Zetl. Introd. 31 Nothing short of actual invasion entitled the Jarl to call them to arms by the *Ward-fire.
1551Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. X. 29 Item, for ane *wardegard to hir, iij li. x s. 1552Ibid. 70 Item, vj elnis bukcrame to be wardegardis to hir and to hir kepar Effame..xxiiij s.
1890Q. Rev. July 265 The lowest grade [of politician] is the ‘*ward-heeler’, or hanger-on of the political head of the city ward in which he resides. 1907Times 23 Jan. 6/2 [San Francisco] Bar-room politicians, roughs, ward-heelers, bullies.
1972R. Thomas Porkchoppers (1974) xxiv. 208 Practical politics, the *ward-heeling kind. 1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 1 July, But neither ward-heeling councilmen nor grandstanding mayors can provide the kind of leadership that gets things done. 1980N. Freeling Castang's City xv. 100 Why the hell would there be any integrity in these ward-heeling affairs?
1502Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 115/1 The proffitt of the said *warde landis quhil the are recover sesing thairof. 1581Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) III. 230/1 Anent the taxatioun of wardlandis. a1659Bp. Brownrig Serm. (1674) I. i. 11 He that purchases but one foot of Ward-land, makes all his Estate lyable to the King. 1684Sir G. Mackenzie Inst. Laws Scot. ii. v. (1694) 76 If the Vassal sells or dispones the half of his Ward-Lands to any except his appearand Heir.
1689E. Howard Caroloiades 197 O're which [army], tho Fairfax, Generall we finde, His Power to Cromwell *ward-like was design'd.
1888H. Morten Hospital Life 68 The *ward-maid was out. 1901Daily Chron. 1 May 1/7 Hartley Wintney Union. Wanted a wardsmaid. 1909Englishwoman Apr. 240 In the smaller infirmaries, there are often wardmaids, with no training, who are expected to do nurses' work.
1473Rolls of Parlt. VI. 72/2 With the Londes and Tenementes and other Profittes, and Mariage, or *Ward mariage of the same heire or heires. 1747Act 20 Geo. II, c. 50 §1 That the Tenure of Lands..in Scotland by Ward Holding..and the Casualties consequent upon the same by Ward Marriage and Recognition, be taken away.
1855Motley Dutch Rep. ii. vii. I. 560 John Van Immerzeel, Margrave of Antwerp, was then holding communication with the senate, and awaiting the arrival of the *ward-masters. 1883Fortn. Rev. July 126 The ward-masters, nurses, and attendants in the hospitals.
1946Nature 13 July 54/1 The Government and the hospital authorities have agreed upon..the training of more male nurses and the formation of a grade of ‘*ward orderlies’ to assist the nurses. 1971P. D. James Shroud for Nightingale viii. 275 She went..as ward orderly.
1938Amer. Speech XIII. 228/2 Doctors regularly visit the patients under their care and for some reason their visits are called *ward rounds or ward walks. 1963Oxford Med. School Gaz. XV. 81 At some stage during the ward-round he would lead his flock down to the P.M. room. 1977Lancet 5 Feb. 317/1 His ward-rounds were very popular and were attended by a large number of undergraduates and postgraduates.
1314–15Rolls of Parlt. I. 318/1 De diversis redditibus annuatim Regi debitis, qui vocantur Hydag' et *Wardselfur’. 1418in Essex Rev. (1904) XIII. 133 [Paying yearly 18s. as] ‘ward-silver’ [in lieu of all services].
1610Holland Camden's Brit. i. 440 Lambourn Manour, which is held by service of the Wardstaffe, vz. to carrie a load of strawe in a Carte with sixe horses, two ropes, two men in harnesse to watch the said *Ward-staffe when it is brought to the towne of Aibridg, &c.
1681Stair Instit. i. 422 Recognition was found not excluded or burdened by Inhibition against the *Ward-vassal. a1768[see ward-fee].
1598Marston Sco. Villanie i. ii. C 2, Tail'd and retail'd, till to the pedlers packe, The fourth-hand *ward-ware comes, alack, alack.
1831Scott Ct. Rob. i. iv, How long she had passed that critical period, was a secret to all but the trusted *ward-women of the purple chamber.
1599N. D. [R. Parsons] (title), A Temperate *Ward-Word, to the Turbulent and Seditious Wach-word of Sir Francis Hastinges knight. 1603Harsnet Popish Impost. 53 The priests had their ward-word ready. 1716M. Davies Athen. Brit. III. 51 And disperse once more from another Babel of one another's Catchpoling Watch-words without any precautionary Ward-words.
▪ III. † ward, n.3
Also 7 Sc. waird.
Aphetic form of award.
c1400Beryn 3568 They made Syrophanes,..plegg[e] fynd..To byde þe ward & Iugement of þat he had mys-do. 1464in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 332 All thes wardes and ordenances forsaide. 1477Stoner Papers (Camden) II. 27, I have done my dewte in every ponte accordyng to your warde. 1531Abstr. Protocols Town Clerks Glasgow (1897) iv. 30 As air fwnd be ane ward of þe court. 1534Ibid. 68 Efter ane ward and dome of court gevin in the tolbwtht of Glasgw. 1609Skene Reg. Maj., Quon. Attach. xxxvi. §3 Ilk soytour..sould be examinat in thrie courts, gif he can make recorde of the court (of ane proces deduced in court) or report ane sufficient warde (interloquutour) or dome, anent wardes, or exceptions asked in the court. Ibid. ii. Table 101 They [the suitors] sould trye, advise, and pronunce the wardes (interloquutors) of court.
▪ IV. ward, n.4 dial.
[? var. of wart n. or of warre (OE. wearr callosity). Cf. warded a.2]
(See quot.)
a1825Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Ward, callosity of the skin; on the hands, from hard labour, and on the feet from much walking.
▪ V. ward, v.1|wɔːd|
Forms: 1 weardian, -iᵹan, 2 wærdien, 3 wardie, 3–4 wardi, wardy(e, 6 Sc. vard(e, vayrd, 6–7 Sc. waird, 3–7 warde, 4– ward. Also 7 pa. tense ward (rare).
[OE. weardian = OFris. wardia, OS. wardon (MDu. waerden, MLG. warden), OHG. wartên (MHG., mod.G. warten), ON. varða:—OTeut. *warđōjan, -ǣjan, f.*warđō: see ward n.2 The Eng. verb may in some of its uses have been influenced by OF. warder (north-eastern) = Central OF. guarder (mod.F. garder), Pr. gardar, Sp., Pg. guardar, It. guardare, a Com. Rom. adoption of the Teut. word.]
1. trans. To guard, stand guard over; to keep in safety, take care of; to defend, protect. (For to watch and ward, see watch v.) Obsolescent or arch.
In OE. sometimes const. genitive.
a1035Cnut's Secular Laws lxxvi. (Liebermann) Ac þære cæᵹean heo sceal weardian. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud) an. 1087, Þa Englisce men þe wærdedon þære sæ. 13..K. Alis. 7324 (Laud MS.), [They] ben so warded al aboute Þat hem ne stondeþ none doute. 13..Leg. Gregory (Schulz) 980 To help and ward Cristendom. 1382Wyclif Matt. xxvii. 66 Thei goynge forth kepten, [gloss] or wardiden, the sepulcre. 1475Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 27 For golde,..conquerithe not ennemies, nother in time of pease wardithe the peple to be in rest. 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. ii. iv. 40 Hor. But first my lookes shall combat against thine. Bel. Then ward thy selfe: I dart this kisse at thee. 1594Shakes. Rich. III v. iii. 254 Then if you fight against Gods Enemy, God will in iustice ward you as his Soldiers. c1613Middleton No wit like Woman's v. i. 145, I found the door Warded suspiciously. 1631Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 704 On the farther side..the Britaines warded the bankes. 1893Stevenson Catriona viii. 87 Hope Park, a beautiful pleasance,..warded by a keeper. 1913Blackw. Mag. Dec. 787/1 Your wits must ward your head.
b. To defend, protect from. Now arch.
a1225Ancr. R. 174 Bisecheð ᵹeorne God..þet he wite & wardie ou urom alle þeo þet ou awaiteð. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 970 Hii wolde..Wardi hom fram alle men, þat hom ne tidde no drede. 13..Sir Beues 2946 Min em, þe bischop Florentin,..Schel þe warde fro damage. 1475Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 77 Youre roiaume forto warde, kepe, And defende frome youre adversaries. 1565Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. iii. xix. 95 The other two [angels] warding him on eche side from the danger of the fire also. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. iii. i. 195 Tell him, it was a hand that warded him From thousand dangers. 1604T. Wright Passions vi. 318 Abraham..was constrayned to warde his offring from the molestfull crowes. a1677Barrow Serm. vii. Wks. 1687 I. 90 No better can any man ward himself from blame, by imputing the neglect of devotion to some indisposition within him thereto. 1850Blackie æschylus I. 185 Loxias himself will ward His holiest shrine from lawless outrage.
c. fig. To guard, keep carefully (a secret). rare.
1881A. J. Duffield Don Quixote II. 442 ‘My profession,’ answered the priest, ‘..obliges me to ward a secret.’
†d. intr. (absol.) To keep guard. Often with watch. (For to watch and ward, see watch v.) Obs.
1390Gower Conf. II. 304 And in this hous to loke and warde Was Minotaurus put in warde. c1450Holland Houlate 619 Baith to walk and to ward, as watchis in weir. 1569J. Hawkins in Hakluyt's Voy. (1589) 555 Our men which warded a shore being stricken with soden feare, gaue place, fled, [etc.]. 1579–80North Plutarch, Romulus (1595) 24 The Kings souldiers which warded at the gates of the city. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. i. 107 A garrison..which warding there day and night became lazie with doing nothing. 1722De Foe Plague (1884) 74 The Family..left the..Fellows warding, and watching.
†2. trans. To rule, govern (a land, people); to administer (an estate); to act as guardian to (a child). Obs.
a1000Cædmon's Dan. 665 Nabochodonossor..weardode wide rice. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 643 Þulke time þat samuel þe prophete wardede þat folc of israhel. Ibid. 6453 To þe king of hongri þis seli children tueie He sende uor to norisi, þat he wardede hom wel beye. 13..Guy Warw. (1891) 510 Þemperour haþ made him his steward, To wardi his lond about. c1350Will. Palerne 101 Þanne was þe best bliþe i-nov for þe barnes sake, For he wist it schold be warded wel þanne at þe best. 1390Gower Conf. I. 345 He..tok this child into his warde, And seide he wolde him kepe and warde.
†3. To man with a garrison; to protect or shield with some work or contrivance; to fortify (a castle). Obs.
1340–70Alisaunder 265 Grim thei were, To warden þeir walles with weies ynow. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. viii. (1495) 114 The lyddes ben warded and kept wyth rowes of heer. c1400Parce michi 194 in 26 Pol. Poems 148 Castelles and toures, Withoute y-warded with stronge dyches. 1544Betham Precepts War ii. liv. L iij b, Cytis warded with all kyndes of defences. 1633T. Stafford Pac. Hib. iii. ix. 321 The Castle of Leam-con neere Crooke haven which the rebels warded, was recovered from them.
†b. said of the defending work. Obs.
a1000Ags. Ps. (Th.) ciii. 3 Heofon..þone weardiað ufan wætra ðryðe. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xxvi. (Bodl. MS.), Þe yȝen defendeþ and wardeþ alle þe forþer parties of þe body. 1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 177 Towarde the west on the Northe syde, great Cuba..wardeth owre Tethys [i.e. Hayti] on the backe halfe. 1579Spenser Sheph. Cal. July 42 S. Michels Mount who does not know, That wardes the Westerne coste? 1596― F.Q. iv. x. 7 And for defence thereof, on th' other end There reared was a castle faire and strong, That warded all which in or out did wend.
†4. To keep in close custody or confinement; to put in ward, imprison. Chiefly Sc. Obs.
1390Gower Conf. II. 354 A Maiden, which was warded streyte Withinne chambre and kept so clos, That [etc.]. a1400Morte Arth. 1614 That they be weisely wachede and in warde holdene, Wardede of warantizez with wyrchipfulle knyghttez. c1480Henryson Paddock & Mouse 166 (Bannatyne MS.) Now in fredome, now wardit in distress. 1508Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 247/1 Dome [was] gevin apoun thair personis to be wardit thairfor. 1581N. Burne in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.) 116, I..vas vayrdit in the Tolbuith of Edinburgh. 1597in Maitl. Club Misc. I. 129 The kirk desyris the bailleis to waird him quhill the nixt Sonday, his fude to be bread and wattir allanerlie. a1670Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Bannatyne Club) I. 220 He was shortly wairded for these words.
†b. fig. To keep in close check or control. Obs.
1390Gower Conf. I. 53 Thin yhe forto kepe and warde, So that it passe noght his warde. Ibid. I. 60 If thou..wisly cowthest warde and kepe Thin yhe and Ere. 1555Hooper in Coverdale Lett. Martyrs (1564) 158 True confession is warded on euery side, with many daungers.
5. With in, off, up: To enclose, hem in, seclude, shut off (esp. for safety or protection). rare.
a1586Satir. Poems Reform. xxxvii. 37 Walde ȝe ward ȝow vpe betwne tua ways, Ȝit so ȝe sall not frome þair sayingis save ȝou. c1590Greene Fr. Bacon ii. i. 446 (Collins) The Pyren mounts..That ward the welthie Castile in with walles. 1842Dickens Amer. Notes xi, The machinery not warded off or guarded in any way, but doing its work in the midst of the crowd of idlers..who throng the lower deck.
6. To parry, repel, fend off, turn aside (a stroke or thrust, blow, attack, weapon, missile). Now almost always with off.
1571Golding Calvin on Ps. lv. 13. 214 Too put backe a stroke by striking it upward, according as wee say in English I had warded his blowe. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. ix. 10 Their God himselfe..Shot many a dart at me with fiers intent, But I them warded all with wary gouernment. c1643Ld. Herbert Autobiog. (1824) 126 All I could well do to those two which remained, was to ward their thrusts. 1652Urquhart Jewel 137 He for twenty several bouts, did but ward their blows, and pary with the fort of his sword. 1697Dryden æneis v. 584 Entellus..with his warping Body wards the Wound. 1732T. Lediard Sethos II. ix. 277 He employ'd one part..to ward off the flights of arrows. 1830Praed Poems (1864) I. 352 And now he wards a Roundhead's pike, and now he hums a stave. 1844Mrs. Browning Rom. Page ii, Once in the tent, and twice in the fight, [thou] Didst ward me a mortal blow. 1845Darwin Voy. Nat. ii. (1879) 25 Seeing a great powerful man afraid even to ward off a blow, directed, as he thought, at his face. 1851Mayne Reid Scalp Hunters lv, Before El Sol could ward it off, the thrust was given, and the weapon appeared to pass through his body.
fig.1638Featley Sir H. Lynde's Case for Spect. Ep. Ded. A 6, Your Lordship in your last..unanswerable masterpiece, held up your buckler over the Knight then living,..and ward off the Iesuits blowes. a1734North Life Ld. Kpr. Guilford (1742) 224 He met sometimes with a Reprimand, which he would wittily ward off.
b. absol. or intr. To parry blows; to stand on the defensive in a combat. arch.
1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xxii. 218 And wepne to fight [v.r. warde] with þat wol neuere faille. 1567J. Maplet Gr. Forest iii. 101 [The unicorn] in his fight wardeth and foyneth at the Elephant his bellye. a1586Sidney Arcadia i. xi. §13 As soone as he spied Palladius, he drew his sword, and..let flie at him. But Palladius..sought rather to retire, and warde. 1591Harington Orl. Fur. Pref. ⁋ ij b, As good fensers vse to ward and strike at once. 1592Lyly Midas iv. ii, A Nation..so valiant, that are redier to strike than ward. 1653Holcroft Procopius, Vandal Wars ii. 38 Solomon..commanded the rest..to stand still, warding with their shields, against the enemies Javelins. 1697Dryden æneis v. 575 Yet equal in Success, they ward, they strike. 1820Praed Poems (1864) II. 15 Life is won by ready sword, By strength to strike and skill to ward.
7. trans. To avert, keep off (harm, danger, etc.).
a. simply.
a1586Sidney Arcadia i. Eclogue (1598) 85 While they did ward sun-beames with shadie bay. 1673Lady's Call. i. iii. §18 It concerns them therefore to ward those beginnings whose end may be so fatal. 1710Philips Pastorals ii. 125 Fold Thy Flock with mine, to ward th'injurious Cold. c1750Shenstone Elegy iii. 13 He little knew to ward the secret wound. 1810Scott Lady of L. v. xx, I, only I, can ward their fate. 1850Blackie æschylus II. 240 Theirs it is to ward fulfilment of all evil-omened sights. 1882Ld. Acton Lett. to Mary Gladstone 21 Mar. (1904) 132 Images would probably impress him as a danger to be warded, rather, I think, than Transubstantiation.
b. with off. Also (rarely) aside.
1759Goldsm. Bee No. 3 If, then, you would ward off the gripe of poverty, pretend to be a stranger to her. 1774― Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 322 Covering their heads at the same time to ward off any danger of the falling of pebbles or stones from above. 1798Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 241 If we can ward off actual war till the crisis in England is over. 1803Edwin II. xiv. 214 To ward aside the threatened tempest. 1854Surtees Handley Cr. lviii. (1901) II. 129 Rising hills ward off the wintry winds. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vi, To keep out weather, to ward off cold,..or what not. 1881W. H. Day Dis. Childr. 593 Which may obviate the tendency to congestion, and so ward off the paroxysms.
†8. intr. To take up a position of defence, take precautions against. Also, to be careful that (something be done). Obs.
a1225Ancr. R. 182 Sicnesse þet God sent..wascheð þeo sunnen þet weren er iwrouhte: wardeð to ȝein þeo þet weren touwardes. c1475Partenay 805 Warde that ye be a monday in thys place. 1709Prior Paulo Purganti 100 Our Don, who knew this Tittle Tattle Did, sure as Trumpet, call to Battel; Thought it extreamly à propos, To ward against the coming Blow. 17..? Swift S.'s Wks. (1841) II. 850/2 In England, this pusillanimity is more to be warded against than in most other countries. 1726Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 99 Regard must be had..in cold Countries to ward against the bleak Northwind. 1755Mem. Capt. P. Drake Ded., But where is the Necessity of warding against the Imputation of Flattery, when I dedicate to Your Lordship?
9. trans. To place (a patient) in a particular ward in a hospital; to lodge (a vagrant) in a ‘casual ward’. (A new formation on the n.)
1879St. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 62 Warded at 2 p.m. next day with the same symptoms. 1889Sir D. Duckworth in Lancet 5 Jan., She appeared there [sc. at the Hospital] and being very ill..was warded. 1909Westm. Gaz. 23 Feb. 12/1 The question as it seemed to these Town Councillors was how to get the vagrants warded, not how to keep them out of the Casual Ward.
10. Of a dog: To line or cover (a bitch).
1781P. Beckford Th. Hunting v. 59 When you breed from a very favourite sort, and can have another bitch warded at the same time, it will be of great service, as you may then save all the puppies. 1826J. Cook Fox-hunting 11 It is therefore not very probable that one Stallion-hound can ward many bitches besides those of the owner.
▪ VI. † ward, v.2 Obs.
Aphetic f. award v. Hence ˈwarding vbl. n. or ppl. a.
1442Rolls of Parlt. V. 43/2 If..Processe theropon be wardet. 1475Ibid. VI. 141/1 That the Juges of the said Bench.., have auctorite..to ward that the said James have ayein his said Goodes,..and theruppon to ward Writtes of execution in that behalve. 1487Cely Papers (Camden) 160 A sarpler..poyntyd be the lefftenaunte to be casten owte to wardd the sortt bye as the ordenaunce ys now made that the lefftenaunte schall poynt the warddyng sarplers of every mans wull. 1555in Strype Eccl. Mem. App. No. 47 (1721) III. 145 Which shalbe proved, yf a commission might be warded to that purpose.
▪ VII. ward
Sc. contr. f. were it.
c1580Montgomerie Misc. P. xl. 8 Weill ward thou weep, O ouer audacious ee!
▪ VIII. ward
obs. pa. tense of ware v.2, worth v. |