vaward

American  

[vah-wawrd, vou-awrd] / ˈvɑˌwɔrd, ˈvaʊ ɔrd /

noun

Archaic.

1. vanguard.

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Etymology

Origin of vaward

1325–75; Middle English, variant of va ( u ) mwarde, vantward, aphetic for avantward < Anglo-French avantwarde, equivalent to avant ( see avaunt) + warde < Old English weard ward

Example Sentences

Then did the ample marge And circuit of thy targe Sullenly redden all the vaward fight, Above the blusterous clash Wheeled thy swung falchion's flash And hewed their forces into splintered flight.

From New Poems by Thompson, Francis

Where's now their victor vaward wing,   Where Huntly, and where Home?

From Lyra Heroica A Book of Verse for Boys by Various

It is true that in other places he represents himself as old, and again in another states that he and his accomplices in the Gadshill robbery are in the vaward of their youth.

From Obiter Dicta by Birrell, Augustine

The Duke of York so dread The eager vaward led; With the main Henry sped     Among his henchmen.

From Bulchevy's Book of English Verse by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Unbanner your bright locks,—advance Girl, their gilded puissance, I' the mystic vaward, and draw on After the lovely gonfalon Us to out-folly the excess Of your sweet foolhardiness; To adventure like intense Assault against Omnipotence!

From New Poems by Thompson, Francis