guardian

From Middle English gardein, garden, (also wardein, > Modern English warden), from Anglo-Norman guardein, from Old French *guardian, gardein, garden, *gardenc, from the verb guarder, of Germanic origin. Compare French gardien. Doublet of warden.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑɹdi.ən/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑːdɪən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)dɪən

guardian (plural guardians)

1. Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 52:

     ‘As your Senior Tutor, I am your moral guardian,’ he said at last. ‘A moral guardian yearns for an immoral ward and the Lord has provided.’

2. (law) A person legally responsible for a minor (in loco parentis).
3. (law) A person legally responsible for an incompetent person.
4. A superior in a Franciscan monastery.
5. (video games) A major or final enemy; boss.
   • 1993, Zach Meston, J. Douglas Arnold, Awesome Super Nintendo Secrets 2

     Secret weak points of bosses/guardians.

   • 2004, James Newman, Videogames

     'if you tell me how to find the secret door in level three, I'll tell you how to defeat the end of level guardian'

• guardian angel
• guardianship
• guard

• Grauniad

Old French, from Frankish

guardian m (plural guardians)

1. guardian; protector