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

Other Word Forms

• wardenship noun
• subwarden noun
• subwardenship noun
• underwarden noun
• wardenry 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

However, with a handful of seasonal residents living there temporarily, as wardens, for some of the year, Sian described it as being "very much a living community".

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Once up and running, they say, a dog licence scheme would fund more dog wardens and animal welfare officers, plus pay to educate people on responsible ownership.

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The punishment cells, or the “Klondike,” are described in a 1924 warden’s report as a row of unsanitary, windowless cells with black painted ceilings and walls, and only an iron toilet and faucet.

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Even after the state Supreme Court ordered her release, Bailey’s office told the prison warden to ignore the court’s order.

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It's a similar story for councils, many of whom across the country are using community wardens to keep a grip on antisocial behaviour.

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Related Words

• administrator 
• caretaker 
• curator 
• superintendent