from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Guard \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.]
1. 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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For Heaven still guards the right. --Shak.
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2. To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain
from acts of violence, or the like.
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3. 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.
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4. To fasten by binding; to gird. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
Syn: To defend; protect; shield; keep; watch.
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