ward

A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman.

th'aſſieged Caſtles ward Their ſtedfaſt ſtonds did mightily maintaine

no gate they found, them to withhold, Nor ward to wait at morne and euening late […].

Protection, defence.

Before the dore ſat ſelfe-conſuming Care, Day and night keeping wary watch and ward, For feare leaſt Force or Fraud ſhould vnaware Breake in[…]

Protection, defence.

So forth the presoners were brought before Arthure, and he commaunded hem into kepyng of the conestabyls warde, surely to be kepte as noble presoners.

I must attend his majesty's command, to whom I am now in ward.

Protection, defence.

Protection, defence.

Thou knowest my old ward; here I lay, and thus I bore my point.

Protection, defence.

To keep in safety, to watch over, to guard.

Whoſe gates he found faſt ſhut, ne liuing wight To ward the ſame, nor anſwere commers call

To defend, to protect.

Tell him it was a hand that warded him From a thousand dangers.

they went to ſeeke their owne death, and ruſhed amidſt the thickeſt of their enemies, with an intention, rather to ſtrike, than to ward themſelves.

To fend off, to repel, to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches. (usually followed by off)

Draw forth thy ſword, thou mightie man at armes, Intending but to raiſe my charmed ſkin: And Ioue himſelfe will ſtretch his hand from heauen, To ward the blow, and ſhield me ſafe from harme, […]

Now wards a felling blow, now strikes again.

To be vigilant; to keep guard.

They for vs fight, they watch and dewly ward, And their bright Squadrons round about vs plant […]

Having slapped into middle age, where thoughts of one’s general infallibility are tempered by the realisation that those creaky, achy complaints are signs of certain decrepitude, I have decided to ward against further gravitational decline by hauling my saggy, sorry self to the gym.

To act on the defensive with a weapon.