Warden Meaning
/ˈwɔːdən/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA guard or watchman.
nounA chief administrative officer of a prison.
Sentence Examples
There was only one warden on duty when the riot started.
It surprises most people to find out that the prison warden is a woman.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The strict prison ____ inspected the cells every morning before breakfast.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The prison ____ is responsible for the overall security and the management of the whole correctional and facility today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English wardein, from Anglo-Norman wardein, from warder (“to guard”), variant of Old French guarder (“to guard”) (whence modern French garder, also English guard), from Proto-Germanic *ward-; related to Old High German wartēn (“to watch”). Compare guardian, French gardien, from Old French guardian, guardein. Compare also ward and reward. Doublet of guardian.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"He called to the wardens on the outside battlements."
— 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter IV, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
"The warden of the state prison, Ezekiel Purdy, was a kind man if stern. He invariably made all newcomers a little speech of welcome […]"
— 1934, Nathanael West, “Chapter 7”, in A Cool Million:
"Faith I would have had him rosted like a warden in a brown Paper, and no more talk on’t:"
— c. 1607–1611, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “Cupid’s Revenge”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act II, scene i:
"I must have saffron to colour the warden pies;"
— c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
"In September, come Grapes; Apples; Poppies of all colours; Peaches; Melo-Cotones; Nectarines; Cornelians; Wardens; Quinces."
— 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Gardens”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The strict prison ____ inspected the cells every morning before breakfast.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The prison ____ is responsible for the overall security and the management of the whole correctional and facility today.