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n. 1. The chief administrative official of a prison. 2. An official charged with the enforcement of certain laws and regulations: an air raid warden. 3. Chiefly British a. The chief executive official in charge of a port or market. b. Any of various crown officers having administrative duties. c. One of the governing officials of certain colleges, schools, guilds, or hospitals; a trustee. 4. The chief executive of a borough in certain states. 5. A churchwarden. [Middle English wardein, from Old North French, from warder, to guard, of Germanic origin; see wer-3 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] warden·ship′ n. |
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