ward
ward — verb
- wardpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wards3rd person singular
- warding-ing form
- wardedpast simple
1. to stay close to someone or something and watch over them, keeping them safe fro
to stay close to someone or something and watch over them, keeping them safe from attack or danger
The knights warded the castle gates through the long winter months.
historical register: ward + castle/gate
Adisa's dog warded the farmyard, barking at every stranger who came near.
ward + place (farmyard) with present-participle clause
For three days the soldiers warded the bridge against the advancing army.
A pair of bronze lions warded the entrance to the emperor's tomb.
文法句型
ward + object
用法筆記
This sense is now uncommon in everyday English; it survives mainly in historical, literary, or fantasy contexts. In modern spoken English, 'guard' or 'protect' are used instead.
常見錯誤
2. to push or keep something harmful or unpleasant away from yourself, especially b
to push or keep something harmful or unpleasant away from yourself, especially by using physical force or a barrier
The shield warded the arrow, sending it spinning to the ground.
ward as physical deflection with object (arrow)
Gabriel raised his arm quickly to ward the blow before it could land.
A low stone wall warded the cattle from the fierce desert winds.
The trees along the coast warded the worst of the storm from the village.
文法句型
ward + object
用法筆記
This sense of 'ward' is almost always used with the particle 'off' in modern English (see phrasal verb below). The bare-verb form occurs mainly in literary or formal writing.
常見錯誤
ward — noun
- wardsingular
- wardsplural
1. A space inside a hospital with beds where patients who share a type of illness o
A space inside a hospital with beds where patients who share a type of illness or treatment are looked after.
Roya spent three nights in the children's ward after her surgery.
noun phrase: children's ward
The maternity ward at City Hospital has twelve beds for new mothers.
compound: maternity ward
Nurses check the patients in the cancer ward every two hours.
Haruto's grandmother was moved to a private ward for her recovery.
The emergency ward was full of people waiting for treatment that night.
用法筆記
Commonly combined with a type of illness, treatment, or patient group: cancer ward, maternity ward, psychiatric ward.
常見錯誤
2. A separate section within a prison that contains a group of cells for a specific
A separate section within a prison that contains a group of cells for a specific type of prisoner.
Lukas was moved to a different ward after the fight broke out.
The prisoners in the high-security ward are watched day and night.
adjective + ward: high-security ward
Each ward in the prison has its own set of daily rules.
The prison warden inspected the ward before breakfast every morning.
3. A district within a town created for voting purposes and local administration.
A district within a town created for voting purposes and local administration.
Gabriel was elected as the council member for the northern ward.
preposition: for + ward
Each ward in the city sends one representative to the town hall.
The boundaries of the coastal ward were changed before the election.
Residents of the ward voted on the new school building plan.
用法筆記
Common in British, Australian, and Canadian local government contexts. In the US, 'ward' is used in some cities but 'district' or 'precinct' is more frequent.
4. Someone whom a judge puts into the care of a guardian or the legal system — most
Someone whom a judge puts into the care of a guardian or the legal system — most often a minor whose own parents cannot raise them.
After her parents passed away, Linh became a ward of the court.
fixed phrase: ward of the court
The judge declared the child a ward of the state until a guardian is found.
fixed phrase: ward of the state
As a ward, Tara received financial support and housing from the government.
The social worker visits each ward in her care every two weeks.
- guardian
the person who has legal responsibility for a ward
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed expressions 'ward of court' and 'ward of the state'. Usually refers to a minor whose parents cannot or will not care for them.
常見錯誤
ward — idiom
ward — adjective suffix
1. used to form adjectives that describe a person, thing, or movement that goes, fa
used to form adjectives that describe a person, thing, or movement that goes, faces, or points toward a particular direction or place — for example, a homeward train is one travelling toward home, or a forward cabin is one at the front of a ship.
The forward cabins on the ship have the best views of the ocean.
forward as adjective describing position toward the front
A homeward train was already waiting at platform three when Bilal arrived.
homeward = travelling toward home
The northward current pulled the fishing boat toward the Arctic Circle.
An eastward wind carried the smoke from the fire across the valley.
The caravan continued on its southward route through the desert for another week.
文法句型
[direction/location noun] + -ward + [noun]
用法筆記
The noun that -ward attaches to is most often a direction word (north, east, south, west), a place word (home, land, sea), or back/forward. In British English the adverbial form often ends in -wards (e.g. walk homewards), but the adjective form stays -ward.
常見錯誤
2. used to form adjectives that describe something located or happening in a partic
used to form adjectives that describe something located or happening in a particular direction from a reference point — for example, the landward side of an island is the side that faces toward the land rather than the sea.
The landward side of the island has richer soil than the coastal areas.
landward = situated toward the land
The westward rooms in Élise's apartment get bright afternoon sunshine.
The seaward wall of the old fort was built five metres thick.
The northward fields of the farm are still covered in morning frost.
Hao took the shoreward path that ran along the cliff top to the lighthouse.
文法句型
[location noun] + -ward + [noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DIRECTED TOWARD): sense 1 describes something that is actively moving or facing a direction; sense 2 describes a static position or location. The same -ward word can sometimes carry either meaning depending on context — 'the northward slope of the hill' (sense 2, position) vs 'the northward march of the army' (sense 1, movement).
常見錯誤
ward — adverb suffix
1. added to direction words or place nouns to form adverbs that tell the spatial di
added to direction words or place nouns to form adverbs that tell the spatial direction in which something stretches or the temporal direction in which something continues — for instance, the fence runs northward across the field, or the tradition carries onward through the years.
The hiking trail runs southward from the village toward a small fishing lake.
run + direction-ward for spatial extent
From that day onward, Tariq kept a small notebook in his pocket all the time.
[time] + onward for temporal continuation
The desert stretches eastward past the rocky hills into the next province.
Camila's garden extends westward behind the house down to the small creek.
文法句型
[direction word] + -ward after verb of position/stretching
用法筆記
This sense describes the line or path of something that continues in a direction, rather than movement toward a destination. Common verbs are stative or durative: run, stretch, extend, continue, carry. The temporal use is limited to onward and forward.
常見錯誤
2. added to direction words or place nouns to form adverbs that describe movement d
added to direction words or place nouns to form adverbs that describe movement directed toward a specific destination, position, or area — for example, walking homeward after work, or turning eastward at the crossroads.
The children ran homeward through the park as the sun began to set.
run homeward for movement toward home
Maeve turned northward at the old stone bridge and followed the river road.
turn + direction-ward for change of trajectory
The small boat drifted shoreward with the evening tide and hit the sand.
Ishaan guided the sheep slowly westward toward the barn before the storm.
文法句型
[direction/place word] + -ward after verb of movement
用法筆記
Use with verbs of directed motion: run, walk, turn, drift, guide, move, head, sail. The destination can be a place (homeward, shoreward, landward, seaward) or a compass direction (northward, southward, eastward, westward). Distinguish from sense 1 (DIRECTIONAL EXTENT): sense 1 describes a static line or temporal continuation, while this sense describes actual movement toward a goal.
常見錯誤
ward — biographical name
1. Artemas Ward (1727–1800), a senior officer in the American Continental Army duri
Artemas Ward (1727–1800), a senior officer in the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War who commanded Massachusetts forces before George Washington took charge of the whole army.
General Artemas Ward led the Massachusetts troops during the siege of Boston in 1775.
historical event: siege of Boston
A statue of Artemas Ward stands in Ward Circle in Washington, D.C.
place named after the person: Ward Circle
Wren found an old letter from General Ward describing the cold winter at camp.
Artemas Ward served in the Massachusetts militia before the American Revolution began.
A town in Massachusetts was named Ward after the general who fought for independence.
文法句型
[full name] + lived/died/served as
General + Ward
用法筆記
Frequently referred to as 'General Ward' in historical texts about the American Revolution. Not to be confused with Montgomery Ward, the 19th-century merchant and catalog retailer.
2. Charles Farrar Browne (1834–1867), an American writer and humour lecturer who us
Charles Farrar Browne (1834–1867), an American writer and humour lecturer who used the pen name 'Artemus Ward' and became famous for comic misspellings, satirical newspaper pieces, and a speaking style that later shaped Mark Twain's career.
Linh quoted Artemus Ward's comic misspellings to show how satire worked in the 1860s.
literary technique: comic misspellings
Mark Twain copied Artemus Ward's storytelling style when he started giving speeches.
influence on Mark Twain
Ziad found a collection of Artemus Ward's old newspaper columns in the library.
Artemus Ward's real name was Charles Farrar Browne, but few readers knew that.
Tara read an Artemus Ward essay that made fun of politicians through fake spelling errors.
- Charles Farrar Browne
his legal name; used in formal biographical references
文法句型
[pen name] + wrote/commented/said
the humorist + [name]
用法筆記
The pen name 'Artemus Ward' is the primary name in literary discussion; the real name Charles Farrar Browne appears in biographical footnotes. His humour relies on deliberate comic misspelling (e.g. 'did you ever heer a awlfuller soun'?).
3. Barbara Ward (1914–1981), a British economist and writer who focused on internat
Barbara Ward (1914–1981), a British economist and writer who focused on international development and environmental protection. She was made a life peer in 1974 for her work on global poverty, and her ideas helped form the modern concept of sustainable development.
Isabela's professor called Barbara Ward a pioneer of sustainable development thinking.
role: pioneer of sustainable development
Barbara Ward advised British prime ministers on foreign policy and global poverty.
policy adviser role
Wren read Barbara Ward's book 'Only One Earth' for a class on the environment.
Barbara Ward argued that rich nations should help poor countries grow sustainably.
A college in Toronto named its global-studies centre after Barbara Ward.
- Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth
her official title; used in formal British references
文法句型
[name] + argued/wrote about
Baroness + [surname]
用法筆記
Often referred to by her full title 'Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth' in formal or British contexts. Her best-known book is 'Only One Earth' (1972), co-written with René Dubos for the UN Conference on the Human Environment.
4. Sir Joseph George Ward (1856–1930), a New Zealand politician who served as the 1
Sir Joseph George Ward (1856–1930), a New Zealand politician who served as the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1906 to 1912 and again from 1928 to 1930. His government introduced old-age pensions and workers' compensation and worked to strengthen ties with the British Empire.
Sir Joseph Ward's government introduced old-age pensions in New Zealand.
policy: old-age pensions
During his second term, Sir Joseph Ward worked on trade deals with Canada.
trade policy with Canada
Yael saw a portrait of Sir Joseph Ward in the New Zealand Parliament building.
Sir Joseph Ward was born in Melbourne and spent his career in New Zealand politics.
A statue of Sir Joseph Ward stands outside the town hall in Bluff, New Zealand.
- Joseph Ward
shorter form; used in informal historical discussion
文法句型
Sir + [full name]
[name] + served as Prime Minister of
用法筆記
Always referred to with the honorific 'Sir' in formal contexts. Distinguish from his son, Joseph Ward (also a politician), who served as a cabinet minister but never as Prime Minister.
5. Mary Augusta Ward (1851–1920), an English novelist from the famous Arnold family
Mary Augusta Ward (1851–1920), an English novelist from the famous Arnold family who published under the name Mrs. Humphry Ward. Her novel 'Robert Elsmere' (1888) was a bestseller that sparked public debate about religion, doubt, and social reform in Victorian England.
Wren borrowed a first edition of Mrs. Humphry Ward's novel 'Robert Elsmere' from the library.
notable work: 'Robert Elsmere'
Mary Augusta Ward's grandfather was Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School.
family: granddaughter of Thomas Arnold
Tariro wrote her thesis comparing Mrs. Humphry Ward's style with that of George Eliot.
Mrs. Humphry Ward's novels often explored the conflict between faith and science.
In the 1890s, Mrs. Humphry Ward was one of Britain's most widely read authors.
- Mrs. Humphry Ward
her professional publishing name; used in contemporary Victorian references
文法句型
Mrs. + [husband's name] + Ward
[name] + wrote/published/novel
用法筆記
Published professionally under her husband's name 'Mrs. Humphry Ward', a common practice for Victorian women writers. Modern references increasingly use her birth name 'Mary Augusta Ward'. Her novel 'Robert Elsmere' was one of the best-selling books of the 19th century.
ward — suffix
1. added to nouns or direction words to form adjectives or adverbs that mean moving
added to nouns or direction words to form adjectives or adverbs that mean moving or facing towards a specific place or direction
Ryo turned his head skyward and watched the birds fly south.
place noun + -ward: skyward
The ship sailed eastward across the Atlantic for three weeks.
direction word + -ward: eastward
Lakshmi took a quick backward step when the dog barked loudly.
The lost hikers pressed onward through the dark forest without stopping.
After the party, Tyler walked homeward along the quiet street.
文法句型
direction word + -ward
place noun + -ward
用法筆記
In American English the final -d is kept in both adjective and adverb uses (backward, forward, homeward). In British English, -wards is often preferred for adverbs (backwards, forwards, homewards).