Words - the history of an idea _ from the OED

("gA;dI@n) Forms: a. 5 gardyene, 5–6 gardeyn, 5–8 -ein, (6 -aine, -ayne, -en, guarden, 7 gardeine). b. 5–7 gardian, (6 -iane, -ien), 6– guardian. [a. AF. gardein (1275), OF. g(u)arden, earlier -enc, nom. sing. and acc. pl. guardens, -ains (12th c.), f. garde guard n. or perh. a. Teut. *warding-, f. wardâ ward n. + -ing: see -ing3. The assimilation of the ending to the suffix -ien, which has given the mod.F. gardien, dates from the 14th c., while the appearance of the corresponding -ian in the Eng. word is evidenced from the 15th c. Cf. Pr. gardian, Sp. guardian, It. guardiano, and see warden.]
1. One who guards, protects, or preserves; a keeper, defender; ‘one to whom the care and preservation of any thing is committed’ (J.); sometimes = guardian angel. Applied also occas. to impersonal objects.
c1477 Caxton Jason 87b, She retorned into her chamber wher was but one auncient lady her gardyene or maystresse. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vi. clxxx. 177 Foure knyghtes, whiche were called gardeyns of her corps, were slayne fast by her. Ibid. vii. 365 From that yere+were al custodyes & gardeyns, and no mayres: & who tho that was than constable of the Toure of London, was also custos of the cytie. a1547 Surrey Æneid ii. (1557) Dij, In the void porches Phenix, Ulisses eke, Sterne guardens stood watching of the spoile. 1598 W. Phillips Linschoten's Disc. Voy. i. iii. 4 The Guardian, that is the quarter master hath 1400 reyes the month. 1605 Shakes. Macb. ii iv. 35 The Sacred Store~house of his Predecessors, And Guardian of their Bones. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. Ded. to King §9 (1872) 79 Readers in sciences are indeed the guardians of the stores and provisions of sciences. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 512 The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw Angels ascending and descending, bands Of Guardians bright. a1711 Ken E. Hymn Wks. (1838) 438 O may my Guardian while I sleep, Close to my bed his vigils keep. 1767 Junius Lett. xiv. 59 The attorney-general is ex officio the Guardian of liberty. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iii. 189 The clergy were the guardians of morality. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 10 Plato+explains the manner in which guardians of the law+are to be appointed. 1883 C. J. Wills Mod. Persia 277 The dervish who usually acts as guardian to the tomb.
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c1477 a1547 1605 a1711 1856




b. †Guardian of the Peace: an earlier name for a ‘Justice of the Peace’. Guardian of the Spiritualities, G. of the Temporalities: see those words. Guardian of the Poor (often simply Guardian): one of a board elected to administer the poor laws in a particular parish or district.
[1330 Act 4 Edw. III, c. 5 Et eient les Justices, assignez a la deliverance des gaoles poair a deliverer les gaoles de ceux qi serront enditez devant les gardeins de la pees.] 1417 Ld. Furnival in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 61 The Gardeins of the spirituallities of Ardmaghe. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. i. ii. (1588) 9 The Gardeins of the Peace (who afterward obtained the name of Iustices of the Peace). 1764 Burn Poor Laws 183 Twelve persons residing in each district, of a certain estate in land, to be guardians of the district. 1782 Act 22 Geo. III, c. 83 §2 The Visitor, Guardian, and Governor of such Poor House. Ibid. §7 It shall and may be lawful for two Justices of the Peace+to appoint one of the Persons so recommended to be Guardian of the Poor for each of such Parishes. 1783–94 Blake Songs Innoc., Holy Thursday 11 Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the poor. 1834 Act 4 & 5 Will. IV, c. 76 §38 A Board of Guardians of the Poor for such Union shall be constituted and chosen, and the Workhouse or Workhouses of such Union shall be governed, and the Relief of the Poor in such Union shall be administered, by such Board of Guardians. 1857 Toulmin Smith Parish 166 ‘Guardians’ may exist either for single parishes, or for groups of parishes joined in ‘Unions’. 1876 Fawcett Pol. Econ. iv. v. (ed. 5) 598 The Manchester guardians have lately made able-bodied paupers grind corn by hand. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. V. xxv. 549 A reform of a generation back entrusted the care of the poor+to Boards of Guardians.
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c. (See quot.)
1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., In the order of the garter, the officer who in other military orders is called grand~master, is called the sovereign guardian of the order.

1727–41




d. In an Oddfellows' lodge, Inner and Outer Guardian. (Cf. guard n. 7c.)
1879 Man. Oddfellowship 141 The lodge is properly arranged, and the inner door opened wide; the Grand Marshal, with white baton trimmed with scarlet, approaches the Inner Guardian from without.
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2. spec. in Law. One who has or is by law entitled to the custody of the person or property (or both) of an infant, an idiot, or other person legally incapable of managing his own affairs; a tutor. (The correlative of ward.)
1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 50/2 Syth he hath nothing by discent holden by knightes seruice, the law maketh his mother his gardaine. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. (1634) Table Contents, The old Church is compared to an heire under age, which is governed by Gardians. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. iii. 174, I am sorry for her, as I haue iust cause, being her Vncle, and her Guardian. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 2 A wastefull Prince, that had neede of a Guardian, or ouerseer. 1628 Coke On Litt. i. 135b, When an Ideot doth sue or defend, he shall not appeare by Gardeine or Procheine Amy. 1700 Prideaux Lett. (Camden) 195 Mr Walpole, who was guardian to ye Lord Townshend. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 6 310 She only ran away from her guardians. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. xvii. 379 The guardian with us performs the office of both the tutor and curator. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 429 The possession of the mother as guardian, gave actual possession to the son. 1859 W. Collins Q. of Hearts (1875) 5, I knew perfectly well that I should hear myself appointed guardian, and executor with his brother, of this young lady.
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b. guardian in chivalry: the guardian of a minor holding by knight service. (†Rarely g. in knight service.) guardian in socage: the guardian of a tenant in socage. guardian by nature: the father, with respect to his tutelage of the heir apparent or heiress presumptive. guardian for nurture: the father, and, after his death the mother, until the minor has reached the age of 14. (These four were classed together as guardians by the common law.) guardian by custom or customary guardian: an officer, corporation, etc. having by local custom a legal right to exercise guardianship. guardian by election: a guardian chosen by an infant who would otherwise have none. (See also quot. 1823.) guardian ad litem (see quot. 1838).
1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Curatores dicuntur qui pupillis loco tutorum dantur. Gardians in socage, or they that haue the charge and custodie of wardes or other under yeres of discretion. 1574 tr. Littleton's Tenures 10b, The childes mother entrethe in the remnant, and it occupieth as garden or warden in socage. 1628 Coke On Litt. i. 85 There is Gardeine in right in Chiualrie, and Gardeine in Deede in Chiualrie. Ibid. 88b, There are three manner of Gardeinships, viz. by the Common Law, by the Statute Law, and Custome. By the Common Law there are foure manner of Gardians, viz. Gardein in Chiualrie+Gardein by nature+Gardein in Socage+Gardein per cause de nurture. 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. i. §60. 28 Gardien in Knight Service of the bodie and land may grant the wardship of the land without deed. 1654 Sheppard's Crt.-Keepers Guide 112 A Gardeine in Chivalry that hath a Manor of the Wards may make Copyhold Estates. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 83 Guardian in Chivalry may give or sell to another the Guardianship of his Ward; but Guardian in Socage cannot, for his is delegata potestas. 1660 Act 12 Car. II, c. 24 §8 Every person or persons claiming the custody or tuition of such childe or children as Guardian in soccage or otherwise. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 449 Of the several species of guardians, the first are guardians by nature: viz. the father and (in some cases) the mother of the child+There are also guardians for nurture which are of course the father, or+mother, till the infant attains the age of fourteen years. Ibid. 462 These guardians in socage, like those for nurture, continue only till the minor is fourteen years of age. 1820 Gifford Compl. Eng. Lawyer iii. xii. (ed. 5) 387 Guardians are of six kinds:—1. Guardians by nature; 2. Guardians by nurture; 3. Guardians in socage; 4. Guardians by testament; 5. Guardians by custom of particular places; 6. Guardians by election of the infant. 1823 Crabb Technol. Dict. s.v., Guardian by statute, or testamentary guardian, one appointed according to the statute of 12 Car. 2, c. 24.+ Guardian by appointment, is either of the Lord Chancellor or the Ecclesiastical Court. 1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 465/1 All courts+have power to appoint a guardian ad litem, that is, to defend a prosecution or suit instituted by or against an infant.
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†3. In various official titles in which the form warden is now prevalent. Obs.
1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 35 Preamble, His Lyeutenaunte of Ireland and Gardeyn of the+Marches. 1529 Rastell Pastyme (1811) 195 Ryse Meridocke rebellyd agaynst the kynge's Gardeyn of his Castels in Wales. 1571 Act 13 Eliz. c. 10 §2 Master or Gardian of anye Hospitall. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. iii. ii. (1588) 337 The writ de homine Replegiando to be directed to the garden of a Forest. 1632 Star Chamb. Cases (Camden) 109 Lord Gardein of the Cinque Portes. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Guardian of the Cinque Ports, otherwise lord-warden.
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4. The superior of a Franciscan convent. [L. custos.]
1466 Paston Lett. No. 549 II. 266 Item, to xxiii. susters of Normandys, with the gardian, eche of them iiiid., and the gardian viiid. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., In the convents of Franciscans, the officer is called guardian, who in the rest is called superior. 1883 Catholic Dict. (1885) 356/2 Fr. John Perez de Marchena, guardian of a convent near Seville+a learned cosmographer.

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5. pl. = guard n. 12. ? Obs.
1555 Eden Decades 38 The guardens of the north pole were owte of syght. 1879 Proctor New Star Atlas 16 The course of the pair of stars (called ‘the Guardians of the Pole’) belonging to the Little Bear is also shown by arrows.
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6. attrib. and Comb., as guardian election; guardian-cell = guard-cell.
1880 Gray Struct. Bot. iii. §4. 89 The stomata+consist usually of a pair of cells (called *guardian-cells), with an opening between them. 1885 G. L. Goodale Physiol. Bot. (1892) 377 The cellulose film is produced almost simultaneously throughout the whole extent of the mother-cell, which is cut into two guardian-cells, forming a stoma.

1898 Daily News 23 Feb 6/5 The question of a Saturday poll at the forthcoming *guardian elections.



b. attrib. passing into adj. with sense ‘protecting, tutelary.’ guardian-angel, an angel conceived as watching over or protecting a particular person or place; also transf.
1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God 125 Your great guardian-gods bore all this unmoved. a1631 Donne Relique 26 Difference of sex no more wee knew, Then our Guardian Angells doe. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 670 Mother Earth, Goddess unmov'd! whose Guardian Arms extend O'er Thuscan Tiber's Course, and Roman Tow'rs defend. a1711 Ken Hymns Festiv. Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 384 Bless'd Angels,+Your Guardian cares bestow. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. 168 We have each of us a dæmon, genius, angel, or guardian-spirit. 1725 Pope Odyss. iii. 481 Distinguish'd care of guardian Deities! 1760 Foote Minor i. Wks. 1799 I. 239 Then will I step in, like his guardian-angel, and snatch him from perdition. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 12 Round his dwelling guardian saints attend. 1780 Cowper 2nd Poem Burn. Ld. Mansfield's Libr., They+blessed the guardian care that kept His sacred head from harm. 1810 Scott Lady of L. i. xvii, The Guardian Naiad of the strand. 1834 J. H. Newman Par. Serm. (1837) I. xx. 311 His guardian friends now long departed. 1847 L. Hunt Jar Honey xii. (1848) 161 The goddess Proserpina, when she was the guardian angel of Sicily. 1864 Pusey Lect. Daniel v. 257 Then followed the Guardian-promise to the house of Jehu. Ibid. viii. 523 Each Christian at least is, from childhood, assigned to the care of his own guardian angel.
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