noun

• (archaic or obsolete) A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman.
  "th'aſſieged Caſtles ward Their ſtedfaſt ſtonds did mightily maintaine"

noun

• Protection, defence.
• Protection, defence.
  "Thou knowest my old ward; here I lay, and thus I bore my point."
• Protection, defence.
• A protected place, and by extension, a type of subdivision.

verb

• (transitive) To keep in safety, to watch over, to guard.
  "Whoſe gates he found faſt ſhut, ne liuing wight To ward the ſame, nor anſwere commers call"
• (transitive) To defend, to protect.
  "Tell him it was a hand that warded him From a thousand dangers."
• (transitive) To fend off, to repel, to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches. (usually followed by off)
  "Draw forth thy ſword, thou mightie man at armes, Intending but to raiſe my charmed ſkin: And Ioue himſelfe will ſtretch his hand from heauen, To ward the blow, and ſhield me ſafe from harme, […]"
• (intransitive) To be vigilant; to keep guard.
  "They for vs fight, they watch and dewly ward, And their bright Squadrons round about vs plant […]"

name

• (countable) An English surname originating as an occupation for a guard or watchman.
• (countable) An English male given name.