See Also: warden(medicine)
warden(dictionary)
dog warden(dictionary)
warden(dictionary)
warden(2)(dictionary)
warden(1)(dictionary)
WARDEN(law)
game warden(dictionary)
traffic warden(dictionary)
CHURCH-WARDEN(law)

warden(1) (iou)



warden noun1. ME.
[Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French wardein var. of Old French g(u)arden GUARDIAN.]
A person who guards, protects, or defends something or someone; spec. a guardian angel. ME-E16.
a. A person in charge of something specified; a keeper. obsolete exc. poet. ME.
b. A gatekeeper, a porter, a sentinel. Now rare. ME.
A person having custody of the person and property of an orphan heir during his or her minority. Also more widely, a person in charge of young people. ME-E18.
a. A regent or viceroy appointed to rule a country in the king or queen's absence or minority. obsolete exc. Hist. ME.
b. The governor of a town, province, or district; the commander of a fortress. obsolete exc. Hist. in Warden of the Marches. ME.
a. A custodian of a building, esp. of a temple or church. ME-M17.
b. The dean of a cathedral or collegiate church, or of a royal chapel. LME-M16.
An officer to whose custody prisoners are committed; the governor of a prison. ME.
In certain guilds, esp. in the livery companies of the City of London: a member of the governing body under the authority of the Master or the Prime Warden. ME.
a. A person in charge of some work or enterprise. LME-E17.
b. Freemasonry. Either of two officers (called Senior Warden and Junior Warden) in a symbolic lodge who acted as assistants to the Worshipful Master. Only in 18.
= CHURCHWARDEN noun 1. LME.
b. An official with similar functions in a synagogue. L19.
a. The superior of a Franciscan convent. LME-L16.
b. The head or presiding officer of certain colleges, schools, hospitals, youth hostels, etc. M16.
In titles of various officers holding positions of trust under the Crown, as Warden of the Cinque Ports, Lord Warden of the Stannaries, etc. L15.
A member of a committee appointed to be in charge of the repair and regulations for use of a bridge, highway, etc. L15.
a. The superintendent of a harbour, market, etc. M16.
b. As 2nd elem. of combs. designating certain officials or superintendents, as barrack-warden, fire-warden, game-warden, etc. M19.
c. An air-raid warden. M20.
a. The officer who presides at ward-meetings or elections. M18.
b. Austral. History A government official, with magisterial powers, in charge of a goldfield. M19.
c. The head of a county council. Canad. M19.
wardency noun (rare) (a) the position of a warden; (b) the sphere or district in which a warden works: M19.
wardenry noun (a) the office or position of a warden; (b) Hist. the jurisdiction of, or district under the care of, a Warden of the Marches: LME.
wardenship noun (a) rare guardianship, safe-keeping; (b) the office or position of a warden: ME.