guard·ian /ˈgɑrdiən/
 保衛者,保護者;監護人;《衛報》


 Guard·i·an a. Performing, or appropriate to, the office of a protector; as, a guardian care.
 Feast of Guardian Angels R. C. Ch. a church festival instituted by Pope Paul V., and celebrated on October 2d.
 Guardian angel. (a) The particular spiritual being believed in some branches of the Christian church to have guardianship and protection of each human being from birth. (b) Hence, a protector or defender in general. --O. W. Holmes.
 Guardian spirit, in the belief of many pagan nations, a spirit, often of a deceased relative or friend, that presides over the interests of a household, a city, or a region.

 ◄ ►


 Guard·i·an n.
 1. One who guards, preserves, or secures; one to whom any person or thing is committed for protection, security, or preservation from injury; a warden.
 2. Law One who has, or is entitled to, the custody of the person or property of an infant, a minor without living parents, or a person incapable of managing his own affairs.
    Of the several species of guardians, the first are guardians by nature. -- viz., the father and (in some cases) the mother of the child.   --Blackstone.
 Guardian ad litem Law, a guardian appointed by a court of justice to conduct a particular suit.
 Guardians of the poor, the members of a board appointed or elected to care for the relief of the poor within a township, or district.


 guardian
      adj : providing protective supervision; watching over or
            safeguarding; "daycare that is educational and not just
            custodial"; "a guardian angel"; "tutelary gods" [syn: custodial,
             tutelary, tutelar]
      n : a person who cares for persons or property [syn: defender,
           protector, shielder]