guardian

Where does the word "guardian" come from? It comes from Frankish *wardōn, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Guardian’s story begins in Frankish: *wardōn meant “to guard.” 'to watch over'; French turned Germanic w- into gu-, so Norman kept 'warden' while Central French had 'guardian', and English borrowed both. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as gardien. One who keeps or protects; the Franciscan head of a friary is still called a guardian. It reached English by 1400s as guardian. The Guardian newspaper was founded in 1821 as the Manchester Guardian. Today, guardian means a defender or protector; a person legally responsible for someone else.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient *wardōn "to guard", 'to watch over'; French turned Germanic w- into gu-, so Norman kept 'warden' while Central French had 'guardian', and English borrowed both.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1200s gardien "keeper, protector", one who keeps or protects; the Franciscan head of a friary is still called a guardian.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s guardian "protector; legal custodian", the Guardian newspaper was founded in 1821 as the Manchester Guardian.