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Guardian; one set to watch over another. [Obs.] "Though thou preyedest Argus . . . to be my wardcorps." Chaucer.

A keeper; a guardian; a watchman. He called to the warden on the . . . battlements. Sir. W. Scott.

court formerly held in each ward of London for trying defaults in matters relating to the watch, police, and the like. Brande & C. "Wards and wardmotes." Piers Plowman.

Wary; watchful; cautious. [Obs.]

tiously; warily. [Obs.] They bound him hand and foot with iron chains, And with continual watch did warely keep. Spenser.

Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, artifices, and dangers; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous; careful. "Bear a wary eye." Shak. We should be wary, therefore, what persecution we raise against the living labors of public men. Milton.

To lie in wait for; to meet or encounter in the way; especially, to watch for the passing of, with a view to seize, rob, or slay; to beset in ambush. Falstaff, Bardolph, Peto, and Gadshill shall rob those men that we have already waylaid. Shak. She often contrived to waylay him in his walks. Sir W. Scott.…

The body politic; the state; common wealth. [Obs.] The special watchmen of our English weal. Shak.

- - often with a question following. "What welcome be thou." Chaucer. What, could ye not watch with me one hour Matt. xxvi. 40.

ery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc. The gasping charioteer beneath the wheel Of his own car. Dryden.

ild; also, to order or direct by testament; as, he willed that his nephew should have his watch.

wind up an argument. (c) To put in a state of renewed or continued motion, as a clock, a watch, etc., by winding the spring, or that which carries the weight; hence, to prepare for continued movement or action; to put in order anew. "Fate seemed to wind him up for fourscore years." Dryden. "Thus they wound up his temp…

books and papers. Some of the species are called also book lice, and deathticks, or deathwatches. -- Wood mite (Zoöl.), any one of numerous small mites of the family Oribatidæ. They are found chiefly in woods, on tree trunks and stones. -- Wood mote. (Eng. Law) (a) Formerly, the forest court. (b) The court of attach…

The moving parts of a mechanism; as, the works of a watch.