Etymology Map
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Guardian

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a defender or protector; a person legally responsible for someone else

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
*wardōn
Frankish · ancient
"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 of 3
gardien
Old French · 1200s
"keeper, protector"
one who keeps or protects; the Franciscan head of a friary is still called a guardian
3
Stage 3 of 3
guardian
English · 1400s
"protector; legal custodian"
the Guardian newspaper was founded in 1821 as the Manchester Guardian
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Read the full story

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.