Adjacent Words

Guard definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GUARD, v.t. gard. [L. verus; wahren, to keep, to last, to hold out; bewahren, to keep or preserve; bewahren, to verify, to confirm; Eng. ware, aware;]
1. To secure against injury, loss or attack; to protect; to defend; to keep in safety. We guard a city by walls and forts. A harbor is guarded by ships, booms or batteries. Innocence should be guarded by prudence and piety. Let observation and experience guard us against temptations to vice.
2. To secure against objections or the attacks of malevolence.
Homer has guarded every circumstance with caution.
3. To accompany and protect; to accompany for protection; as, to guard a general on a journey; to guard the baggage of an army.
4. To adorn with lists, laces or ornaments.
5. To gird; to fasten by binding.
GUARD, v.i. To watch by way of caution or defense; to be cautions; to be in a state of defense or safety. Guard against mistakes, or against temptations.
GUARD, n. [Eng. ward.]
1. Defense; preservation or security against injury, loss or attack.
2. That which secures against attack or injury; that which defends. Modesty is the guard of innocence.
3. A man or body of men occupied in preserving a person or place from attack or injury; he or they whose business is to defend, or to prevent attack or surprise. Kings have their guards to secure their persons. Joseph was sold to Potiphar, a captain of Pharaoh's guard.
4. A state of caution or vigilance; or the act of observing what passes in order to prevent surprise or attack; care; attention; watch; heed. Be on your guard. Temerity puts a man off his guard.
5. That which secures against objections or censure; caution of expression.
They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I.
6. Part of the hilt of a sword, which protects the hand.
7. In fencing, a posture of defense.
8. An ornamental lace,hem or boarder.
Advanced guard,
Van guard, In military affairs, a body of troops, either horse or foot, that march before an army or division, to prevent surprise, or give notice of danger.
Rear guard, a body of troops that march in the rear of an army or division, for its protection.
Life guard, a body of select troops, whose duty is to defend the person of a prince or other officer.
GUARD'-BOAT, n. A boat appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to observe that their officers keep a good look-out.
GUARD'-CHAMBER, n. A guard-room. 1 Kings 14.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a person who keeps watch over something or someone
2: the person who plays that position on a football team; "the left guard was injured on the play"
3: a device designed to prevent injury or accidents [syn: guard, safety, safety device]
4: a posture of defence in boxing or fencing; "keep your guard up"
5: the person who plays the position of guard on a basketball team
6: a military unit serving to protect some place or person
7: a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.; "he put an ice pack on the injury as a precaution"; "an insurance policy is a good safeguard"; "we let our guard down" [syn: precaution, safeguard, guard]
8: the duty of serving as a sentry; "he was on guard that night" [syn: guard duty, guard, sentry duty, sentry go]
9: (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage; "guards must be good blockers"
10: a position on a basketball team v
1: to keep watch over; "there would be men guarding the horses"
2: watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect; "guard my possessions while I'm away" [syn: guard, ward]
3: protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks" [syn: defend, guard, hold]
4: take precautions in order to avoid some unwanted consequence; "guard against becoming too friendly with the staff"; "guard against infection"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English garde, from Anglo-French garde, guarde, warde, from garder, guarder, warder, to guard, defend, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wart?n to watch, take care — more at ward Date: 15th century 1. one assigned to protect or oversee another: as a. a person or a body of persons on sentinel duty b. plural troops attached to the person of the sovereign c. British conductor b 2. a. a defensive state or attitude <asked him out when his guard was down> b. a defensive position (as in boxing) 3. a. the act or duty of protecting or defending b. the state of being protected ; protection 4. a protective or safety device; specifically a device for protecting a machine part or the operator of a machine 5. archaic precaution 6. a. a position or player next to the center in a football line b. a player stationed in the backcourt in basketball II. verb Date: 1500 transitive verb 1. to protect an edge of with an ornamental border 2. a. to protect from danger especially by watchful attention ; make secure <police guarding our cities> b. to stand at the entrance of as if on guard or as a barrier c. to tend to carefully ; preserve, protect <guarded their privacy> 3. archaic escort 4. a. to watch over so as to prevent escape, disclosure, or indiscretion b. to attempt to prevent (an opponent) from playing effectively or scoring intransitive verb to watch by way of caution or defense ; stand guard Synonyms: see defend • guarder noun

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. A form of security operation whose primary task is to protect the main force by fighting to gain time while also observing and reporting information, and to prevent enemy ground observation of and direct fire against the main body by reconnoitering, attacking, defending, and delaying. A guard force normally operates within the range of the main body's indirect fire weapons. 2. A radio frequency that is normally used for emergency transmissions and is continuously monitored. UHF band: 243.0 MHZ; VHF band: 121.5 MHZ. See also cover; flank guard; screen. 3. A military or civilian individual assigned to protect personnel, equipment, or installations, or to oversee a prisoner.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. (often foll. by from, against) watch over and defend or protect from harm. 2 tr. keep watch by (a door etc.) so as to control entry or exit. 3 tr. supervise (prisoners etc.) and prevent from escaping. 4 tr. provide (machinery) with a protective device. 5 tr. keep (thoughts or speech) in check. 6 tr. provide with safeguards. 7 intr. (foll. by against) take precautions. 8 tr. (in various games) protect (a piece, card, etc.) with set moves. --n. 1 a state of vigilance or watchfulness. 2 a person who protects or keeps watch. 3 a body of soldiers etc. serving to protect a place or person; an escort. 4 US a prison warder. 5 a part of an army detached for some purpose (advance guard). 6 (in pl.) (usu. Guards) any of various bodies of troops nominally employed to guard a monarch. 7 a thing that protects or defends. 8 (often in comb.) a device fitted to a machine, vehicle, weapon, etc., to prevent injury or accident to the user (fire-guard). 9 Brit. an official who rides with and is in general charge of a train. 10 in some sports: a a protective or defensive player. b a defensive posture or motion. Phrases and idioms: be on (or keep or stand) guard (of a sentry etc.) keep watch. guard cell Bot. either of a pair of cells surrounding the stomata in plants. guard-rail a rail, e.g. a handrail, fitted as a support or to prevent an accident. guard ring Electronics a ring-shaped electrode used to limit the extent of an electric field, esp. in a capacitor. guard's van Brit. a coach or compartment occupied by a guard. lower one's guard reduce vigilance against attack. off (or off one's) guard unprepared for some surprise or difficulty. on (or on one's) guard prepared for all contingencies; vigilant. raise one's guard become vigilant against attack. Derivatives: guarder n. guardless adj. Etymology: ME f. OF garde, garder ult. f. WG, rel. to WARD n.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. For Heaven still guards the right. --Shak. 2. To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like. 3. To protect the edge of, esp. with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Guard Guard (g[aum]rd), v. i. To watch by way of caution or defense; to be caution; to be in a state or position of defense or safety; as, careful persons guard against mistakes.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Guard Guard, n. [OF. guarde, F. garde; of German origin; cf. OHG. wart, marto, one who watches, mata a watching, Goth. wardja watchman. See Guard, v. t.] 1. One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection. His greatness was no guard to bar heaven's shaft. --Shak. 2. A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel. The guard which kept the door of the king's house. --Kings xiv. 27. 3. One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor. [Eng.] 4. 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. 5. A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise. 6. An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure. They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I. --Atterbury. 7. Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard. 8. (Zo["o]l.) The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites. Note: Guard is often used adjectively or in combination; as, guard boat or guardboat; guardroom or guard room; guard duty. Advanced 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(guards, guarding, guarded) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you guard a place, person, or object, you stand near them in order to watch and protect them. Gunmen guarded homes near the cemetery with shotguns... ...the heavily guarded courtroom. VERB: V n, V-ed 2. If you guard someone, you watch them and keep them in a particular place to stop them from escaping. Marines with rifles guarded them... He is being guarded by a platoon of police. VERB: V n, be V-ed by n 3. A guard is someone such as a soldier, police officer, or prison officer who is guarding a particular place or person. The prisoners overpowered their guards and locked them in a cell. N-COUNT 4. A guard is a specially organized group of people, such as soldiers or policemen, who protect or watch someone or something. We have a security guard around the whole area... A heavily armed guard of police have sealed off the city centre. N-SING-COLL 5. On a train, a guard is a person whose job is to travel on the train in order to help passengers, check tickets, and make sure that the train travels safely and on time. (BRIT; in AM, use conductor) N-COUNT 6. If you guard some information or advantage that you have, you try to protect it or keep it for yourself. He closely guarded her identity. ...a threat to the country's jealously guarded unity. VERB: V n, V-ed 7. A guard is a protective device which covers a part of someone's body or a dangerous part of a piece of equipment. ...the chin guard of my helmet... A blade guard is fitted to protect the operator. N-COUNT: usu with supp 8. Some regiments in the British Army, or the soldiers in them, are referred to as Guards. ...the Grenadier Guards. N-IN-NAMES 9. see also guarded, bodyguard, coastguard, lifeguard, old guard 10. If someone catches you off guard, they surprise you by doing something you do not expect. If something catches you off guard, it surprises you by happening when you are not expecting it. Charm the audience and catch them off guard... The invitation had caught me off guard. PHRASE: V inflects 11. If you lower your guard, let your guard down or drop your guard, you relax when you should be careful and alert, often with unpleasant consequences. The ANC could not afford to lower its guard until everything had been carried out... You can't let your guard down... PHRASE: V inflects 12. If you mount guard or if you mount a guard, you organize people to watch or protect a person or place. They've even mounted guard outside the main hotel in the capital... PHRASE: V and N inflect 13. If you are on your guard or on guard, you are being very careful because you think a situation might become difficult or dangerous. The police have questioned him thoroughly, and he'll be on his guard... He is constantly on guard against any threat of humiliation. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 14. If someone is on guard, they are on duty and responsible for guarding a particular place or person. Police were on guard at Barnet town hall. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 15. If you stand guard, you stand near a particular person or place because you are responsible for watching or protecting them. One young policeman stood guard outside the locked embassy gates. PHRASE: V inflects 16. If someone is under guard, they are being guarded. Three men were arrested and one was under guard in hospital. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Heb. tabbah (properly a "cook," and in a secondary sense "executioner," because this office fell to the lot of the cook in Eastern countries), the bodyguard of the kings of Egypt (Gen. 37:36) and Babylon (2 Kings 25:8; Jer. 40:1; Dan. 2:14).

(2.) Heb. rats, properly a "courier," one whose office was to run before the king's chariot (2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5). The couriers were also military guards (1 Sam. 22:17; 2 Kings 10:25). They were probably the same who under David were called Pelethites (1 Kings 14:27; 2 Sam. 15:1).

(3.) Heb. mishmereth, one who watches (Neh. 4:22), or a watch-station (7:3; 12:9; Job 7:12).

In the New Testament (Mark 6:27) the Authorized Version renders the Greek _spekulator_ by "executioner," earlier English versions by "hangman," the Revised Version by "soldier of his guard." The word properly means a "pikeman" or "halberdier," of whom the bodyguard of kings and princes was composed. In Matt. 27:65, 66; 28:11, the Authorized Version renders the Greek _kustodia_ by "watch," and the Revised Version by "guard," the Roman guard, which consisted of four soldiers, who were relieved every three hours (Acts 12:4). The "captain of the guard" mentioned Acts 28:16 was the commander of the Praetorian troops, whose duty it was to receive and take charge of all prisoners from the provinces.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gard:

(1) sar ha-Tabbachim, "captain of the guard," literally, "slaughterers" (Ge 37:36; 39:1; 40:3,1; 41:10,12); rabh Tabbachim (2Ki 25:8,11,20; Jer 39:9, etc.); rabh tabbachayyah (Da 2:14); ratsim, "guard," the King James Version "footmen" (1Sa 22:17); sare ha-ratsim, "chief of the guard" the King James Version "captains of the guard" (1Ki 14:27); ta' ha-ratsim, "guard-chamber" (1Ki 14:28; compare Eze 40:21, etc., where "lodges" are "guardrooms"; see A.B. Davidson at the place).

(2) mishmar, "guard," a defense to a point of danger (Ne 4:22 f; Eze 38:7).

(3) mishma`ath, "guard" (2Sa 23:23, where the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version, margin have "council," the body over which Benaiah was set by David and whose functions were perhaps those of consultation)

(4) spekoulator, "guard" (Mr 6:27, "a man of Herod's guard," where, as in one or two other cases, Mark, writing for Romans, simply transliterates the Latin speculator "a scout," "an executioner," as in loc.).

(5) stratopedarches, "captain of the guard" the King James Version, "captain of the praetorian guard" the Revised Version, margin, Ac 28:16. See CAPTAIN.

(6) (koustodia), "watch" the King James Version, "guard" the American Standard Revised Version and the Revised Version (British and American) (Mt 27:65,66; 28:11).

1. Royal Body-Guard:

An oriental monarch's body-guard consisted of picked men attached to his person and ready to fulfill his pleasure in important and confidential concerns. At the courts of Egypt and Babylon the members of the guard were known as "slaughterers," "executioners" (Ge 37:36 King James Version margin, the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version, margin, where Potiphar is called their captain); 2Ki 25:8, where Nebuzaradan is called their captain (King James Version margin "chief marshal"). Whether it had ever been the function of the body-guard to kill meat for the royal table there is little directly to show; that they acted as executioners can be well understood. In Israel they were known as "the footmen" (1Sa 22:17 the King James Version, the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version, margin "runners") who acted as royal messengers or couriers from the time of Saul onward (2Ki 10:25; 11:6); and this designation connects them with the couriers of the kings of Persia (Es 3:13,15; 8:14, where our versions render "posts," though the Hebrew is ratsim).

2. Composed of Foreigners:

The men of the royal body-guard were usually foreigners like the janissaries of oriental monarchs down to modern times, who prefer to have around their persons warriors uninfluenced by family connection with the people of the land. Rameses II had such a body-guard whose commanders ranked with the great officers of the crown (Maspero, Struggle of the Nations, 766). David's body-guard of 600, known also as the gibborim or "mighty men," consisted of Cherethites, Pelethites, and Gittites (2Sa 15:18; 20:23), and we read of Carites (2Ki 11:19), who may have been Carians or Cretans, as forming part of the guard at the coronation of King Jehoash.

3. Connection with the Temple:

That this guard had duties in connection with the temple as well as the king's house seems clear. That they were employed as slaughterers of the sacrifices before the Levites were entrusted with the office is unlikely, inasmuch as this guard is not said to have been composed of "slaughterers" but of "runners." But they accompanied King Rehoboam when he visited the temple (1Ki 14:28), and to their captains were committed the shields of brass which took the place of the shields of gold which Solomon had hung up in the temple; Jehoiada employed their captains to put Athaliah to death and to exterminate the worshippers of Baal who had fled to the temple precincts (2Ki 11:4 ); the temple gate leading to the palace was called "the gate of the guard" (2Ki 11:19). At this time, and for this occasion, at least, the royal body-guard were the temple guards; and when Ezekiel drew up his plans for the temple which he conceived to replace the temple destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar, the "lodges" or "little chambers" were rooms for the accommodation of the temple guard (Eze 40:7,10,21,33, etc.).

LITERATURE.

Robertson Smith, OTJC, 262, and note.

T. Nicol.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Protect, defend, shield, shelter, watch, keep in safety, attend for protection. 2. Provide against objections, secure against attack, make with caution. II. v. n. Watch, take care, be cautious, be vigilant. III. n. 1. Defence, Protection, shield, security, bulwark, rampart, aegis, palladium, safe-guard. 2. Sentinel, sentry, watch, watchman. 3. Convoy, escort, conduct, body of defenders. 4. Circumspection, care, watchfulness, caution, attention, heed. 5. Conductor (of a coach or of a railway train).

Moby Thesaurus

Coldstream Guards, Foot Guards, Grenadier Guards, Life Guards, Scots Guards, accompany, advance guard, advocate, aegis, amateur athlete, apologist, archer, arm, arm guard, armament, armed guard, armor, arrest, athlete, attend, avoidance reaction, backstop, baggage man, bakehead, ballplayer, bank guard, baseballer, baseman, batter, battery, beefeaters, bless, blocking back, bodyguard, bowman, brakeman, brakie, bridle, buffer, bull, bulwark, bumper, butcher, catcher, cavalier, center, champion, chaperon, check, cloak, coach, coast guard, commandant, companion, compass about, competitor, conduct, conductor, conserve, constrain, contain, contraceptive, control, convoy, cool, cool off, copyright, cordon, cordon sanitaire, cover, crash helmet, cricketer, curb, curtail, cushion, custodian, custodianship, custody, dashboard, decelerate, defence, defend, defender, defense, defense in depth, defense mechanism, defenses, defensive lineman, deterrent capacity, dispatcher, dodger, dompt, duenna, eagle eye, ego defenses, end, enjoin, ensure, escape mechanism, escort, esquire, eye, face mask, fellow traveler, fence, fend, fender, finger guard, fireman, flank, foot guard, footballer, footplate man, fuse, games-player, gamester, gaoler, garrison, gentleman-at-arms, goalie, goalkeeper, goaltender, goggles, govern, governor, guarantee, guard against, guardedness, guarder, guardian, guardianship, guardrail, guards, guardsman, guide, hand guard, handrail, harbor, hard hat, haven, helmet, hinder, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in leash, hold up, household troops, infielder, inhibit, inlying picket, insulation, insure, interlock, invigilation, jailer, jock, jumper, keep, keep alive, keep back, keep from, keep from harm, keep in, keep in check, keep intact, keep inviolate, keep safe, keep under control, keep up, keep watch over, keeper, knee guard, knuckle guard, laminated glass, lay under restraint, lead, lee, life preserver, lifeline, lightning conductor, lightning rod, lineman, look after, lookout, maintain, make safe, marshal, mask, mind, monitoring, mudguard, negative taxis, nestle, nose guard, not destroy, not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste, observance, offensive lineman, outfield, outfielder, outguard, outpost, pad, padding, paladin, palladium, patent, patrol, patrolman, peeled eye, picket, pilot, player, police, poloist, porter, praetorian guard, preservation, preserve, preventive, principal keeper, prison guard, proctoring, professional athlete, prohibit, prophylactic, protect, protection, protective clothing, protective custody, protective umbrella, protector, prudence, psychological defenses, pugilist, pull, pull in, quarterback, qui vive, racer, railroad man, railroader, rear guard, redcap, refuge, register, rein, rein in, resistance, restrain, retard, retrench, ride shotgun for, safe-conduct, safeguard, safekeeping, safety, safety glass, safety plug, safety rail, safety shoes, safety switch, safety valve, save, screen, screw, seat belt, secure, security, security guard, self-defense, self-preservation, self-protection, sentinel, sentry, set back, shade, shadow, sharp eye, shelter, shepherd, shield, shin guard, shroud, skater, slow down, smoke agent, snub, spare, sport, sportsman, squire, stationmaster, stewardship, stoker, straiten, sun helmet, support, supporter, surveillance, sustain, swain, switchman, tackle, tailback, take out, tend, the defensive, toxophilite, train guard, trainboy, trainman, trainmaster, turnkey, umbrella, underwrite, uphold, upholder, usher, van, vanguard, vigil, vigilance, vindicator, wait on, ward, warden, warder, wariness, watch, watch and ward, watchful eye, watchfulness, watching, watchman, weather eye, windscreen, windshield, wingback, withhold, wrestler, yardman, yardmaster, yeoman