Guard v. t. [imp. & p. p. Guarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Gurding.]
1. To protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend; to shelter; to shield from surprise or attack; to protect by attendance; to accompany for protection; to care for.
For Heaven still guards the right. --Shak.
2. To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like.
3. To protect the edge of, esp. with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.
The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on neither. --Shak.
4. To fasten by binding; to gird. [Obs.]
Syn: -- To defend; protect; shield; keep; watch.