English Explanatory Dictionary

warden

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A guard or watchman.
  2. A chief administrative officer of a prison.
  3. An official charged with supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specific laws or regulations; such as a game warden or air-raid warden.
  4. A governing official in various institutions
verb
  1. To carry out the duties of a warden.
noun
  1. A variety of pear.
name
  1. A surname originating as an occupation for a warden.
  2. A village and civil parish in south Northumberland, England (OS grid ref NY9166).

Pronunciation

/ˈwɔːdən/ /ˈwɔɹdən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-warden.wav

Word forms

warden wardens wardening wardened

Etymology

From Middle English wardein, from Anglo-Norman wardein, from warder (“to guard”), variant of Old French guarder (“to guard”) (whence modern French garder, also English guard), from Proto-Germanic *ward-; related to Old High German wartēn (“to watch”). Compare guardian, French gardien, from Old French guardian, guardein. Compare also ward and reward. Doublet of guardian.

Related words

Warden in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911) Chipping Warden Old Warden

Derived words

air-raid warden air warden chapelwarden churchwarden dog warden firewarden fire warden fish warden game warden mint warden parking warden people's warden subwarden traffic warden wardeness Warden Hill Warden Law wardenless warden of the mint wardenry wardenship warden system waywarden
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