guardian
    n 1: a person who cares for persons or property [syn:
         defender, guardian, protector, shielder]

Guardian \Guard"i*an\, 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.
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   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.
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            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.
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   Guardian ad litem(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.
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Guardian \Guard"i*an\ (g[aum]rd"[i^]*an or g[aum]rd"yan; 106),
   a.
   Performing, or appropriate to, the office of a protector; as,
   a guardian care.
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   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.
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