ward

1. (n) Protection, defence. 2. (n) The action of a watchman; monitoring, surveillance (usually in phrases keep ward etc.) 3. (n) Guardianship, especially of a child or prisoner. 4. (n) (fantasy) An enchantment or spell placed over a designated area or social unit, that prevents any tresspasser from entering; approaching; or even being able to locate said protected premises or demographic. 5. (n) (fencing) A guarding or defensive motion or position. 6. (n) A protected place, and by extension, a type of subdivision. 7. (n) An area of a castle, corresponding to a circuit of the walls. 8. (n) A section or subdivision of a prison. 9. (n) An administrative division of a borough, city or council. 10. (n) (UK) A division of a forest. 11. (n) (Mormonism) A subdivision of the LDS Church, smaller than and part of a stake, but larger than a branch. 12. (n) A part of a hospital, with beds, where patients reside. 13. (n) A person under guardianship. 14. (n) A minor looked after by a guardian. 15. (n) An object used for guarding. 16. (n) The ridges on the inside of a lock, or the incisions on a key. 17. (v) (transitive) To keep in safety, to watch over, to guard. 18. (v) (transitive) To defend, to protect. 19. (v) (transitive) To fend off, to repel, to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches. (usually followed by off) 20. (v) (intransitive) To be vigilant; to keep guard. 21. (v) (intransitive) To act on the defensive with a weapon. 22. (n) (archaic or obsolete) A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman. 23. (n) (historical, Scots law) Land tenure through military service. 24. (n) (obsolete) An underage orphan. 25. (n) A placename 26. (n) (countable) An English surname originating as an occupation for a guard or watchman. 27. (n) (countable) An English male given name. 28. (n) A river in Ireland; in full, Ward River. 29. (n) A small town in Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand, named after Joseph Ward. 30. (n) A locale in the United States: 31. (n) An unincorporated community in Sumter County, Alabama. 32. (n) A city in Lonoke County, Arkansas. 33. (n) A town in Boulder County, Colorado. 34. (n) An unincorporated community in Jackson Township, Boone County, Indiana. 35. (n) A township in Todd County, Minnesota. 36. (n) A town in Allegany County, New York. 37. (n) A township in Hocking County, Ohio. 38. (n) A township in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. 39. (n) A town in Saluda County, South Carolina. 40. (n) A town in Moody County, South Dakota. 41. (n) An unincorporated community in Stevens County, Washington. 42. (n) An unincorporated community and coal town in Kanawha County, West Virginia. 43. (n) A parish of Castleknock, Fingal, Ireland. 44. (n) Clipping of Edward (a corruption of the name Edward). [A male given name from Old English.] 45. (n) Clipping of Howard. [A surname originating as a patronymic.] 46. (n) Ellipsis of Ward Beach: a coastline in Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand. 47. (n) Ellipsis of Ward County. [One of 53 counties in North Dakota, United States. County seat: Minot. Named after Mark Ward.]