ward (n.)
guard, protection, defence
LLL III.i.130[Armado to Costard, of giving him a coin] the best ward of mine honour is rewarding my dependants
MW II.ii.238[Ford as Brook to Falstaff, of Mistress Ford] I could drive her ... from the ward of her purity
Sonn.48.4[] From hands of falsehood, in sure wards of trust
x

Jump directly to