ward

views updated May 21 2018

ward / wôrd/ • n. 1. a separate room in a hospital, typically one allocated to a particular type of patient: a children's ward | [as adj.] a ward nurse. ∎  one of the divisions of a prison.2. an administrative division of a city or borough that typically elects and is represented by a councilor or councilors. ∎  a territorial division of the Mormon Church presided over by a bishop.3. a person, usually a minor, under the care and control of a guardian appointed by their parents or a court. ∎  archaic guardianship or the state of being subject to a guardian: the ward and care of the Crown.4. (usu. wards) any of the internal ridges or bars in a lock that prevent the turning of any key that does not have grooves of corresponding form or size. ∎  the corresponding grooves in the bit of a key.5. archaic the action of keeping a lookout for danger: I saw them keeping ward at one of those huge gates.6. hist. an area of ground enclosed by the encircling walls of a fortress or castle.7. Fencing a defensive position or motion.• v. [tr.] 1. archaic guard; protect: it was his duty to ward the king.2. admit (a patient) to a hospital ward.PHRASES: ward of the court a person, usually a minor or of unsound mind, for whom a guardian has been appointed by a court or who has become directly subject to the authority of that court.PHRASAL VERBS: ward someone/something off prevent from harming or affecting one: she put up a hand as if to ward him off.DERIVATIVES: ward·ship / ship/ n.

ward

views updated Jun 27 2018

ward1
A. watching, guarding, custody OE.; charge of a prisoner XIII;

B. administrative division of a city, etc. XIV (in AL. warda XIII);

C. separate room or division of a prison, hospital, etc. XVI;

D. pl. notches or projections in a key or lock to prevent opening XV. OE. weard = MLG. warde, OHG. warta watch (G. warte watchtower):- WGmc. *wardō (whence ONF. warde, with the repr. of which the native word coalesced = (O)F. garde GUARD), f. *ward-, extension of *war- be on guard, watch (see WARE2).

ward

views updated May 18 2018

ward2 guard, defend OE.; parry, fend off XVI. OE. weardian = OS. wardon, OHG. wartēn (G. warten nurse, look after), ON. varða :- Gmc. *warðōjan, *warðǣjan, f. *warðo WARD1; reinforced in ME. by ONF. warder, var. of (O)F. garder GUARD vb.

ward

views updated Jun 27 2018

ward.
1. Bailey or court of a castle, protected by a wall, towers, etc.

2. Large apartment in a gaol or hospital.

Ward

views updated May 14 2018

WARD

A person, especially an infant or incompetent, placed by the court in the care of a guardian.

cross-references

Guardian and Ward.

Ward

views updated Jun 27 2018

Ward

a body of guards or defenders, as a garrison (its use survives in wardroom); a body of watchmen, 1500; patients in a hospital ward, collectively, 1768.