wardo

Forms

wardō (present infinitive wardāre, perfect active wardāvī, supine wardātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is a medieval verb, borrowed from Frankish *wardōn (“to guard, protect”).^[1][2] Niermeyer and the DMLBS derive it within Latin from warda (“watch, guard”), itself a Germanic word.^[3][4] The Frankish verb goes back to Proto-Germanic *wardōn (“to guard”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest certain example is the prefixed form rewardant in the Reichenau Glossary;^[1] a 7th-century guardare is reported but not confirmed.^[1]

Semantic evolution

In medieval Latin it meant to herd cattle, to be on one's guard against someone, and to guard a castle or an estate.^[3][1] It is also spelled gardare and guardare;^[3][2] an Italian charter of 1198 has it for keeping and defending.^[2] In Britain it meant to protect.^[4]

It survives in Italian guardare and its dialect relatives,^[1] and the Frankish verb also gave Old French garder.^[5]

Timeline

• 1198 – An Italian charter uses guardare for guarding and defending.^[2]
• 1283 – A Gascon roll uses gardare of guarding the people of a town.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Medieval Latin) To herd cattle.^[3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) To guard against, be on one's guard.^[3]
3. (Medieval Latin) To guard, protect (a castle, an estate, a people).^[3][2][4]

Related words

• English guard
• English ward

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com