Ward Meaning
/wɔːd/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman.
nounProtection, defence., The action of a watchman; monitoring, surveillance (usually in phrases keep ward etc.)
Sentence Examples
How long does it take to go to the Toshima Ward Office?
The child was made a ward of the state.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The young patient was moved to the children's ____ for better medical care.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The nurse works in the children's ____ of the city hospital, caring for several many sick and young patients today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English warde, from Old English weard (“keeper, watchman, guard, guardian, protector; lord, king; possessor”), from Proto-Germanic *warduz (“guard, keeper”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to heed, defend”). Cognate with Dutch waard, German Wart.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"th'aſſieged Caſtles ward
Their ſtedfaſt ſtonds did mightily maintaine"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 15:
"no gate they found, them to withhold,
Nor ward to wait at morne and euening late […]."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"there is remuneration for the best ward of mine"
— c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
"For want of other ward,
He lifted up his hand, his front to guard."
— 1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"Before the dore ſat ſelfe-conſuming Care,
Day and night keeping wary watch and ward,
For feare leaſt Force or Fraud ſhould vnaware
Breake in[…]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The young patient was moved to the children's ____ for better medical care.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The nurse works in the children's ____ of the city hospital, caring for several many sick and young patients today.