Obs. Forms: 1 weard, 4–5 warde, 5– ward. [OE. weard masc. = OS. ward, OHG. (MHG., mod.G.) wart, ON. vǫrð-r, Goth. dauraward-s doorkeeper:—OTeut. *warðu-z, *warðo-z; synonymous words differing in declension are OE. wearda, OHG. warto (MHG. warte):—OTeut. *warðon-, and Goth. wardja:—OTeut. *warðjon-; f. Teut. *warð-, an extended form of *war- to watch, guard: see WARE sb.2 and a.] A watchman, guard, keeper, warden.

1

  Common in OE. (often applied to God, as in rodora weard, keeper of the skies). Later, chiefly as the second element in compounds, as bear-, gate-, hay-, mill-, woodward.

2

Beowulf, 229. Weard Scildinga, se þe holmclifu healdan scolde.

3

a. 680.  Cædmon, Hymn, 1. Nu scylun herʓan hefaenricaes uard.

4

971.  Blickl. Hom., 11. Salomones reste wæs mid weardum ymbseted.

5

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 320. For any wye or warde wide opene the ȝatis.

6

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 213. Thou hast slayn the wardes of the serpentes and the portyers of the lions [Fr. (1510) les soursers des serpens & les portiers des lyons] that kepte this contre Inhabitable.

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