English

Verb

ward off ‎(third-person singular simple present wards off, present participle warding off, simple past and past participle warded off)

1. (transitive) To parry, or turn aside.
   • 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:

     Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.

   He raised his arms to ward off the attack.‎

2. (transitive) To avert or prevent.

   He wore garlic to ward off vampires.‎

Translations

Synonyms

• apotropaic

Anagrams

• affowrd