n. [ OF. guardain, gardien, F. gardien, LL. guardianus. See Guard, v. t., and cf. Wasden. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Guardian ad litem fld>(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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Performing, or appropriate to, the office of a protector; as, a guardian care. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Guardianship. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Guardianship. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female guardian. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have placed a trusty, watchful guardianess. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a guardian. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office, duty, or care, of a guardian; protection; care; watch. [ 1913 Webster ]