guardian

Etymology

From Middle English gardein, garden, (also wardein, > Modern English warden), from Old French guardein, from the verb guarder, of Germanic origin. Compare French gardien. Doublet of warden.

noun

1. Someone who guards, watches over, or protects.
   As your Senior Tutor, I am your moral guardian,’ he said at last. ‘A moral guardian yearns for an immoral ward and the Lord has provided. 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, page 52:
2. (law) A person legally responsible for a minor (in loco parentis).
3. (law) A person legally responsible for an incompetent person.
4. A superior in a Franciscan monastery.
5. (video games) A major or final enemy; boss.
   Secret weak points of bosses/guardians. 1993, Zach Meston, J. Douglas Arnold, Awesome Super Nintendo Secrets 2
   'if you tell me how to find the secret door in level three, I'll tell you how to defeat the end of level guardian' 2004, James Newman, Videogames