The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Guard \Guard\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Guarded; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Gurding.] [OF. guarder, garder, warder, F. garder, fr. OHG.
   wart?n to be on the watch, await, G. marten. See Ward, v. &
   n., and cf. Guard, n.]
   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.
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            For Heaven still guards the right.    --Shak.
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   2. To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain
      from acts of violence, or the like.
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   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.
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   4. To fasten by binding; to gird. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.

   Syn: To defend; protect; shield; keep; watch.
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