ward Hear it!

ward Definition

ward (wôrd)

transitive verb

  1. to turn aside; fend off; parry: usually with off
  2. Archaic to keep watch over; guard; protect

Etymology: ME warden < OE weardian, to protect, guard, akin to OHG warten, to wait (see guard): E form and sense infl. by NormFr warder, to protect, keep (for OFr garder)

noun

  1. the act of guarding
  2. the state of being under guard
    1. Now Rare guardianship, as of a person of unsound mind or a child
    2. Now Rare the condition of being under the control of a guardian; wardship
    3. a child or legally incompetent person placed under the care of a guardian or court
    4. any person under another's protection or care
  4. each of the parts or divisions of a jail or prison
  5. a room or division of a hospital set apart for a specific class or group of patients a maternity ward
  6. a district or division of a city or town, for purposes of administration, representation, voting, etc.
  7. ☆ Mormon Ch. a local unit presided over by a bishop and two counselors
  8. a means of defense or protection
  9. a defensive posture, position, or motion, as in fencing
  10. an open space enclosed by the walls of a castle or fortification
  11. Archaic a garrison; the guard or watch
  12. Lockmaking
    1. a projecting ridge in a keyhole or lock face that allows only the right key to enter
    2. the notch in a key that matches this ridge

Etymology: ME < OE weard

Ward Definition

Ward (wôrd)

  1. Ward, Artemus (ärt′ə məs) (pseud. of Charles Farrar Browne) 1834-67; U.S. humorist

  2. Ward, Mrs. Humphry (born Mary Augusta Arnold) 1851-1920; Brit. novelist, born in Tasmania

ward Synonyms

ward

n.

  1. A territorial division

    district, division, territory, canton, precinct, department, diocese, parish, arrondissement.

  2. A juvenile charge

    protégé, dependent, child, foster child, charge, orphan, godchild, adopted child.

  3. Hospital room

    convalescent chamber, infirmary, emergency ward; see hospital, room 2.

ward Law Definition

n

  1. A person for whom a guardian has legal responsibility, or one over whose property a guardian has responsibility. Title to legal property remains with the ward, although he or she may not enter into any contracts involving same.
  2. A division of a town for electoral or educational purposes.

ward Usage Examples

Converse of object

deprive: Higham Hill is the second most deprived ward in the boro.

Adjective modifier

  • electoral: Thurrock Council Electoral Wards The boro of Thurrock is divided into twenty electoral wards.
  • psychiatric: Some young people are " diverted " to an adult psychiatric ward, which is viewed by most to be inappropriate.
  • acute: The story takes place in the acute admission ward of a large psychiatric hospital.
  • surgical: Thomas's family have pledged to raise £ 1m to dedicate a surgical ward in the new Children's Hospital, in his name.
  • pediatric: Each team of students was required to take a history from a patient recently admitted to a pediatric ward.
  • orthopedic: There are three orthopedic wards on the Arrowe Park site, which deal with trauma admissions and major elective surgical cases.

Modifies a noun

  • councilor: We've asked our ward councilors to fight our battle for us.
  • sister: Some ward sisters reported dealing with up to 18 consultants on one ward, who all wanted to liaise with the sister.
  • by-election: Today Lewisham Telegraph Hill ward by-election tomorrow err where exactly max?
  • clerk: The ward clerk can give you a sick note for the time that you are in hospital.

Noun used with modifier

  • multi-member: It might strengthen the link between communities and electoral representation, as the existing local authority boundaries provide a sound basis for multi-member wards.
  • maternity: MULDER: No I'm at the maternity ward.
  • inpatient: Edwards R ( 2004 ): Integrated teams in acute inpatient wards can work.
  • in-patient: There are three in-patient wards providing acute and enduring mental health care within the provision of low secure.
  • hospital: The standard plan of a medieval hospital was an open hall with beds either side, like a modern hospital ward.
  • gynecology: The assessors have also raised concerns about the management of the gynecology ward.

Followed by a transitive particle

off: A branch placed in a house on Good Friday or placed in a bed was said to ward off such forces.

Possessives

vagrant: Vagrants ' wards were erected along Osborne Road at the north of the site.

Preposition: in

constituency: Four of the seven wards in the constituency now have at least one Liberal Democrat Councilor.