GUARD, verb transitive gard. [Latin 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, verb intransitive 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, noun [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, noun 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, noun A guard-room. 1 Kings 14:27.