First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1ward
noun \ˈwȯrd\
: a section in a hospital for patients needing a particular kind of care
: a section in a prison
: one of the sections into which a city or town is divided for the purposes of an election
Full Definition of WARD
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
See ward defined for English-language learners
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Origin of WARD
Related to WARD
2ward
verb
Definition of WARD
transitive verb
1
: to keep watch over : guard
2
: to turn aside (something threatening) : deflect —usually used with off <ward off a blow> <trying to ward off a cold>
See ward defined for English-language learners
Origin of WARD
Middle English, from Old English weardian & Anglo-French warder, garder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, Old Norse vartha to guard, Old English weard ward
First Known Use: before 12th century
Ward
biographical name \ˈwȯrd\
Definition of WARD
(Aaron) Montgomery 1843–1913 Am. merchant
Ward
biographical name
Definition of WARD
Ar*te*mas \ˈär-tə-məs\ 1727–1800 Am. gen. in Revolution
Ward
biographical name
Definition of WARD
Artemus — see Charles Farrar browne
Ward
biographical name
Definition of WARD
Barbara 1914–1981 Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth Eng. econ.
Ward
biographical name
Definition of WARD
Sir Joseph George 1856–1930 N.Z. statesman
Ward
biographical name
Definition of WARD
Mary Augusta 1851–1920 Mrs. Humphry Ward née Arnold Eng. nov.
WARD Defined for Kids
1ward
noun \ˈwȯrd\
Definition of WARD for Kids
1
: a large room in a hospital where a number of patients often needing similar treatment are cared for
2
: one of the parts into which a town or city is divided for management
3
: a person under the protection of a guardian
2ward
verb
ward·edward·ing
Definition of WARD for Kids
: to avoid being hit or affected by <Wear a sweater to ward off the cold.>
Medical Dictionary
ward
noun \ˈwȯ(ə)rd\
Medical Definition of WARD
: a division in a hospital; especially : a large room in a hospital where a number of patients often requiring similar treatment are accommodated <a diabetic ward>
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