1. division (of a hospital, prison, etc.); administrative section; minor, dependent; guardianship, custody; means of defending; notch in a key. avert danger; guard, protect. wardward , v. t. [imp. & p. p. warded; p. pr. & vb. n. warding.] [oe. wardien, as. weardian to keep, protect; akin to os. ward n to watch, take care, ofries. wardia, ohg. wart n, g. warten to wait, wait on, attend to, icel. var a to guarantee defend, sw. v?rda to guard, to watch; cf. of. warder, of german origin. see: ward, n., and cf. award, guard, reward.]