ward off

ward

W0028100 (wôrd)n.1. a. A room in a hospital usually holding six or more patients.b. A division in a hospital for the care of a particular group of patients: a maternity ward.2. a. A division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes.b. A district of some English and Scottish counties corresponding roughly to the hundred or the wapentake.3. One of the divisions of a penal institution, such as a prison.4. An open court or area of a castle or fortification enclosed by walls.5. a. Law A minor or a person deemed legally incompetent.b. A person under the protection or care of another.6. Archaic a. The act of guarding or protecting; guardianship.b. The act of keeping watch or being a lookout.c. The state of being under guard; custody.7. A defensive movement or attitude, especially in fencing; a guard.8. a. The projecting ridge of a lock or keyhole that prevents the turning of a key other than the proper one.b. The notch cut into a key that corresponds to such a ridge.tr.v. ward·ed, ward·ing, wards Archaic To guard; protect.Phrasal Verb: ward off1. To turn aside; parry: ward off an opponent's blows.2. To try to prevent; avert: took vitamins to ward off head colds.

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[Middle English, action of guarding, from Old English weard, a watching, protection; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

ward off

vb (tr, adverb) to turn aside or repel; avert

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	ward off - prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike"deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, avert, stave off, avoid, debar, obviateforeclose, forestall, preclude, prevent, forbid - keep from happening or arising; make impossible; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project"
	2.	ward off - avert, turn away, or repel; "Ward off danger"defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack

ward

noun1. A person who relies on another for support:charge, dependent.2. The state of being detained by legal authority:charge, confinement, custody, detention.3. The act or a means of defending:defense, guard, preservation, protection, protector, safeguard, security, shield.4. A person or special body of persons assigned to provide protection or keep watch over, for example:guard, lookout, picket, protector, sentinel, sentry, watch.verb1. To keep safe from danger, attack, or harm:defend, guard, preserve, protect, safeguard, secure, shield.Archaic: fend.2. To prohibit from occurring by advance planning or action.Also used with off:avert, forestall, forfend, obviate, preclude, prevent, rule out, stave off.Idiom: nip in the bud.phrasal verb
ward offTo turn or drive away:beat off, fend (off), keep off, parry, repel, repulse.

Translations

détourner