ward English · revision 5758

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=a680}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /wɔːd/, US /wɔːrd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|warde]], [[inh|ang|weard|t=a guarding, protection; a guard]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*wardō]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from an extension of the root of [[wary]] and [[ware]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) the PIE root [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to perceive, watch out for]].^(Etymonline) The verb is from Old English weardian “to guard, protect”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It is related to German Warte “watchtower” and warten “to wait, look after”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and is a doublet of [[guard]], which came through French from the same Germanic word;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) some of its Middle English senses were reinforced by Old North French warde and warder.^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A watchman or guard: before 680 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The verb, to guard or keep safe, is from before 1035 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Guardianship in general is from about 1205, and the guardianship of a child or minor from about 1290; a person under a guardian is from 1433, in the Rolls of Parliament.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) An administrative district of a city, first perhaps as a place for guarding, is from about 1378, though Latin documents use it from about 1130.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The notches in a lock or key that stop the wrong key from turning it are from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) a division of a prison from the 16th,^(Hoad 1986) and a room in a hospital from Smollett's translation of ''Gil Blas'' (1749).^(Barnhart 1988) To parry a blow is from before 1387,^(Barnhart 1988) and to fend off, as in ''ward off'', followed.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a680 – a guard, a watchman.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1205 – guardianship.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1378 – a district of a town.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1433 – a person under a guardian.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 15th century – the wards of a lock.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1749 – a hospital ward.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A room or section of a [[hospital]] for patients needing similar care.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A division of a city or town for [[election|alt=elections]] and administration.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person, especially a child, under the care of a [[guardian]] or a court.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A division of a [[prison]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A notch or ridge in a [[lock]] or key that lets only the right key turn.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(ward off)'' To turn aside or keep away.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To guard or protect.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wardless]]

+ * [[steward]]

+ * [[wardroom]]

+ * [[wardship]]

+ * [[woodward]]

+ * [[warder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[warden]]

+ * [[wardrobe]]

+ * [[guard]]

+ * [[wary]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Ward is also a Scots and northern aphetic form of [[award]],^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898) and in East Anglia a callus on the hands or feet.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}