warden

(wôrd′'n)

noun

a person who guards, or has charge of, something; keeper, custodian, or special supervisory official: fire warden, game warden
the chief administrative official of a prison
in England, a title for: now obsolete when used for other high government officers
1. a governor
2. an officer in charge of a certain department of government
3. the superintendent of a port or market
in England,
1. a governing officer in certain guilds, hospitals, etc.; trustee
2. the head of certain British colleges and of some schools
in Connecticut, the chief executive of a borough
churchwarden (sense )
Archaic a gatekeeper or watchman

Origin: ME wardein < NormFr, warden (for OFr gardien): see guardian

Related Forms:

noun

an old variety of winter pear used chiefly for cooking

Origin: ME wardone, prob. < NormFr warder, to keep: see ward,

See warden in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The chief administrative official of a prison.
An official charged with the enforcement of certain laws and regulations: an air raid warden.
Chiefly British
a. The chief executive official in charge of a port or market.
b. Any of various crown officers having administrative duties.
c. One of the governing officials of certain colleges, schools, guilds, or hospitals; a trustee.
The chief executive of a borough in certain states.
A churchwarden.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English wardein

Origin: , from Old North French

Origin: , from warder, to guard

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see wer-³ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: