safeguard

From Middle English savegard, from Middle French sauvegarde, from Old French salve garde, sauve garde, reconstructed as safe +‎ guard.

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safeguard (plural safeguards)

1. Something that serves as a guard or protection; a defense.

   Getting a flu shot is a good safeguard against illness.

2. One who, or that which, defends or protects; defence; protection.
   • Granville

     Thy sword, the safeguard of thy brother's throne.

3. A safe-conduct or passport, especially in time of war.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

safeguard (third-person singular simple present safeguards, present participle safeguarding, simple past and past participle safeguarded)

1. To protect, to keep safe.

   She kept a savings to safeguard against debt and emergencies.

2. To escort safely.

• saufgarde