GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Found 3 definitions
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Guard , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Guarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Gurding.] [OF. guarder, garder, warder, F. garder, fr. OHG. wart>n to be on the watch, await, G. marten. See Ward, v. & n., and cf. Guard, n.]
- To protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend; to shelter; to shield from surprise or attack; to protect by attendance; to accompany for protection; to care for.1913 Webster
For Heaven still guards the right.
Shak.1913 Webster - To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like.1913 Webster
- To protect the edge of, esp. with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.
The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on neither.
Shak.1913 Webster - To fasten by binding; to gird. [Obs.]B. Jonson.
Syn. -- To defend; protect; shield; keep; watch.
1913 Webster
- To protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend; to shelter; to shield from surprise or attack; to protect by attendance; to accompany for protection; to care for.
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Guard , v. i. To watch by way of caution or defense; to be cautious; to be in a state or position of defense or safety; as, careful persons guard against mistakes.1913 Webster
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Guard, n. [OF. guarde, F. garde; of German origin; cf. OHG. wart, warto, one who watches, warta a watching, Goth. wardja watchman. See Guard, v. t.]1913 Webster
- One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection.1913 Webster
His greatness was no guard to bar heaven's shaft.
Shak.1913 Webster - A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel.1913 Webster
The guard which kept the door of the king's house.
Kings xiv. 27.1913 Webster - One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor. [Eng.]1913 Webster
- Any fixture or attachment designed to protect or secure against injury, soiling, or defacement, theft or loss; as: (a) That part of a sword hilt which protects the hand. (b) Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment. (c) A chain or cord for fastening a watch to one's person or dress. (d) A fence or rail to prevent falling from the deck of a vessel. (e) An extension of the deck of a vessel beyond the hull; esp., in side-wheel steam vessels, the framework of strong timbers, which curves out on each side beyond the paddle wheel, and protects it and the shaft against collision. (f) A plate of metal, beneath the stock, or the lock frame, of a gun or pistol, having a loop, called a bow, to protect the trigger. (g) (Bookbinding) An interleaved strip at the back, as in a scrap book, to guard against its breaking when filled.1913 Webster
- A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise.1913 Webster
- An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure.1913 Webster
They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I.
Atterbury.1913 Webster - Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard.1913 Webster
- (Zool.) The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites.1913 Webster
☞ Guard is often used adjectively or in combination; as, guard boat or guardboat; guardroom or guard room; guard duty.
1913 WebsterAdvanced guard, Coast guard, etc. See under Advanced, Coast, etc. -- Grand guard (Mil.), one of the posts of the second line belonging to a system of advance posts of an army. Mahan. -- Guard boat. (a) A boat appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to see that their officers keep a good lookout. (b) A boat used by harbor authorities to enforce the observance of quarantine regulations. -- Guard cells (Bot.), the bordering cells of stomates; they are crescent-shaped and contain chlorophyll. -- Guard chamber, a guardroom. -- Guard detail (Mil.), men from a company regiment etc., detailed for guard duty. -- Guard duty (Mil.), the duty of watching patrolling, etc., performed by a sentinel or sentinels. -- Guard lock (Engin.), a tide lock at the mouth of a dock or basin. -- Guard of honor (Mil.), a guard appointed to receive or to accompany eminent persons. -- Guard rail (Railroads), a rail placed on the inside of a main rail, on bridges, at switches, etc., as a safeguard against derailment. -- Guard ship, a war vessel appointed to superintend the marine affairs in a harbor, and also, in the English service, to receive seamen till they can be distributed among their respective ships. -- Life guard (Mil.), a body of select troops attending the person of a prince or high officer. -- Off one's guard, in a careless state; inattentive; unsuspicious of danger. -- On guard, serving in the capacity of a guard; doing duty as a guard or sentinel; watching. -- On one's guard, in a watchful state; alert; vigilant. -- To mount guard (Mil.), to go on duty as a guard or sentinel. -- To run the guard, to pass the watch or sentinel without leave.
Syn. -- Defense; shield; protection; safeguard; convoy; escort; care; attention; watch; heed.
1913 Webster
- One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection.