ward off

Ward  (wôrd), (Aaron) Montgomery 1843-1913.

American merchant who established (1872) the mail-order business that bears his name.

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Ward, Mary Augusta Arnold Known as Mrs. Humphry Ward. 1851-1920.

British writer whose novels include Robert Elsmere (1888).

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Ward ¹, Artemus 1727-1800.

American Revolutionary general who directed Massachusetts troops in the siege of Boston, until George Washington relieved him of the command and drove the British from the city (1776).

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Ward ², Artemus

See Charles Farrar Browne.

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ward  (wôrd)

n.

1. A division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes.

2. A district of some English and Scottish counties corresponding roughly to the hundred or the wapentake.

3.

a. A room in a hospital usually holding six or more patients.

b. A division in a hospital for the care of a particular group of patients: a maternity ward.

4. One of the divisions of a penal institution, such as a prison.

5. An open court or area of a castle or fortification enclosed by walls.

6.

a. Law A minor or incompetent person placed under the care or protection of a guardian or court.

b. A person under the protection or care of another.

7. The state of being under guard; custody.

8. The act of guarding or protecting; guardianship.

9. A means of protection; a defense.

10. A defensive movement or attitude, especially in fencing; a guard.

11.

a. The projecting ridge of a lock or keyhole that prevents the turning of a key other than the proper one.

b. The notch cut into a key that corresponds to such a ridge.

tr.v. ward·ed, ward·ing, wards

To guard; protect.

Phrasal Verb:

ward off

1. To turn aside; parry: ward off an opponent's blows.

2. To try to prevent; avert: took vitamins to ward off head colds.

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[Middle English, action of guarding, from Old English weard, a watching, protection; see wer-³ in Indo-European roots.]

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ward off

Verb

to prevent (something unpleasant) from happening or from causing harm: to ward off the pangs of hunger, to ward off cancer cells

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	ward off - prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike" deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, avert, stave off, avoid, debar, obviate foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent, forbid - keep from happening or arising; make impossible; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project"
	2.	ward off - avert, turn away, or repel; "Ward off danger" defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack