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award

[uh-wawrd]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to give as due or merited; assign or bestow: to award prizes.
  2. to bestow by judicial decree; assign or appoint by deliberate judgment, as in arbitration: The plaintiff was awarded damages of $100,000.
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noun
  1. something awarded, as a payment or medal.
  2. Law.
    1. a decision after consideration; a judicial sentence.
    2. the decision of arbitrators on a matter submitted to them.
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Origin of award

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English awarden < Anglo-French awarder, equivalent to a- a-4 + warder ≪ Germanic; compare Old English weardian to guard, ward; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French, derivative of awarder
Related formsa·ward·a·bil·i·ty, nouna·ward·a·ble, adverba·ward·er, nounmis·a·ward, verb (used with object)su·per·a·ward, nounun·a·ward·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·ward·ed, adjectivewell-a·ward·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for award

award

verb (tr)
  1. to give (something due), esp as a reward for meritto award prizes
  2. law to declare to be entitled, as by decision of a court of law or an arbitrator
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noun
  1. something awarded, such as a prize or medalan award for bravery
  2. (in Australia and New Zealand) the amount of an award wage (esp in the phrase above award)
  3. law
    1. the decision of an arbitrator
    2. a grant made by a court of law, esp of damages in a civil action
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Derived Formsawardable, adjectiveawardee, nounawarder, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Anglo-Norman awarder, from Old Northern French eswarder to decide after investigation, from es- ex- 1 + warder to observe; see ward
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for award

v.

late 14c., "decide after careful observation," from Anglo-French awarder, from Old North French eswarder (Old French esguarder) "decide, examine" (after careful consideration), from es- "out" + guarder "to watch" (see guard (n.)). Related: Awarded; awarding.

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n.

late 14c., "decision after consideration," from Anglo-French award, Old French esguard, from esguarder (see award (v.)). Meaning "something awarded" is first attested 1590s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper