warden

¹

[ wawr-dn ]

noun

1. a person charged with the care or custody of persons, animals, or things; keeper.

   Synonyms: superintendent, caretaker, custodian, guard, guardian, warder

2. the chief administrative officer in charge of a prison.
3. any of various public officials charged with superintendence, as over a port or wildlife.
4. air-raid warden.
5. firewarden.
6. (in Connecticut) the chief executive officer of a borough.
7. (formerly) the principal official in a region, town, etc.
8. British.
   1. (initial capital letter) a traditional title of the president or governor of certain schools and colleges:

      Warden of Merton College.

   2. a member of a livery company of the City of London.
9. Canadian. the head of certain county or local councils.
10. a member of the governing body of a guild.
11. a churchwarden.
12. a gatekeeper.

Warden

²

[ wawr-dn ]

noun

, British: Archaic.

1. any of several pears having a crisp, firm flesh, used in baking and cooking.

warden

¹

/ ˈwɔːdən /

noun

1. a person who has the charge or care of something, esp a building, or someone
2. any of various public officials, esp one responsible for the enforcement of certain regulations
3. a person employed to patrol a national park or safari park
4. the chief officer in charge of a prison
5. the principal or president of any of various universities or colleges
6. See churchwarden

warden

²

/ ˈwɔːdən /

noun

1. a variety of pear that has crisp firm flesh and is used for cooking

Derived Forms

• ˈwardenry, noun

Other Words From

• warden·ship noun
• sub·warden noun
• sub·warden·ship noun
• under·warden noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of warden¹

1175–1225; Middle English wardein < Old French (northeast dial.), equivalent to ward- (root of warder to guard; ward ) + -ein, variant of -ien, -enc < Germanic -ing -ing ³

Origin of warden²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English wardoun, wardon(e); of uncertain origin; perhaps from Anglo-French or Anglo-Latin wardō (inflectional stem wardōn-)

Word History and Origins

Origin of warden¹

C13: from Old Northern French wardein, from warder to guard, of Germanic origin; see guard

Origin of warden²

C15: of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Several characters, such as Benjamin Clementine’s air-raid warden Ife, are based on real figures.

From Los Angeles Times

The beauty mogul has visited the brothers in prison and vouched for their “exemplary disciplinary records,” adding that a warden there told her that “he would feel comfortable having them as neighbors.”

From Los Angeles Times

When she was appointed the warden of a hostel for children, she took on the role of an Aapa Jaan for them, Pernau writes.

From BBC

At 10:58 a.m., the prison warden told them to give up and stopped Creech’s execution.

From Slate

The rubbish chutes have been modified to deter arsonists, and a trained fire warden patrols around the clock.

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator
• caretaker
• curator
• superintendent