warden

[wawr-dn]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR warden ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

the chief administrative officer in charge of a prison.

any of various public officials charged with superintendence, as over a port or wildlife.

air-raid warden.

firewarden.

(in Connecticut) the chief executive officer of a borough.

(formerly) the principal official in a region, town, etc.

British.

(initial capital letter)a traditional title of the president or governor of certain schools and colleges: Warden of Merton College.
a member of a livery company of the City of London.

Canadian. the head of certain county or local councils.

a member of the governing body of a guild.

a churchwarden.

a gatekeeper.

Origin of warden

1175–1225; Middle English wardein < Old French (northeast dial.), equivalent to ward- (root of warder to guard; see ward) + -ein, variant of -ien, -enc < Germanic -ing -ing³

Related formsward·en·ship, nounsub·war·den, nounsub·war·den·ship, nounun·der·war·den, noun

Synonyms for warden

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR warden ON THESAURUS.COM

1. warder, guardian, guard, custodian, caretaker, superintendent.

Warden

[wawr-dn]

noun British.

any of several pears having a crisp, firm flesh, used in cookery.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for warden

caretaker, administrator, superintendent, curator, bodyguard, guardian, overseer, governor, deacon, ranger, guard, officer, custodian, keeper, janitor, skipper, watchdog, gamekeeper, dogcatcher

Examples from the Web for warden

Contemporary Examples of warden

As in most prisons, the “trusty” was a convict the warden trusted and thus had special privileges.
The Tragic History of Southern Food
Jason Berry
November 12, 2014
Prison guards in Lima found a contraband mobile phone in his prison cell that he claimed was given to him by the warden.
Did Joran Van Der Sloot Fake His Prison Shanking?
Andrea Zarate, Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 5, 2014
The backlash and bad publicity from the escape is much more than the warden ever wanted, but he will have to deal with it.
How To Plan A Jailbreak
Seth Ferranti
September 13, 2014
As prisons go, it is rather tame, and Warden Kevin Jones likes it that way.
How To Plan A Jailbreak
Seth Ferranti
September 13, 2014
No warden in my position would like something like this to happen.
How To Plan A Jailbreak
Seth Ferranti
September 13, 2014

Historical Examples of warden

The outrage on the Warden was not so grotesque, but the effect was the same.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
He wore no collar nor any coat; nor did he bring one with him, so the Warden said.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
There was nothing of the Warden's estimate in these eyes; nothing of cruelty nor deceit nor greed.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
I waited in the Warden's office until the deputies came for the prisoner.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
The guard treated him unfairly, lied about him to the warden, lost his credits, persecuted him.
White Fang
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for warden

warden

noun

a person who has the charge or care of something, esp a building, or someone

any of various public officials, esp one responsible for the enforcement of certain regulations

a person employed to patrol a national park or safari park

mainly US and Canadian the chief officer in charge of a prison

British the principal or president of any of various universities or colleges

See churchwarden (def. 1)

Derived Formswardenry, noun

Word Origin for warden

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

warden

noun

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

Word Origin for warden

C15: of obscure origin

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 warden

early 13c., "one who guards," from Old North French wardein, from Frankish *warding- (cf. Old French guardenc), from *wardon "to watch, guard" (see ward (v.)). Meaning "governor of a prison" is recorded from c.1300.