Ward"en (?), n. [OE. wardein, OF. wardein, gardein, gardain, F. gardien. See Guardian, and Ward guard.]

1. A keeper; a guardian; a watchman.

He called to the warden on the . . . battlements.

2. An officer who keeps or guards; a keeper; as, the warden of a prison.

3. A head official; as, the warden of a college; specifically (Eccl.), a churchwarden.

4. [Properly, a keeping pear.] A large, hard pear, chiefly used for baking and roasting. [Obs.]

I would have had him roasted like a warden.

Ward"en (?), n. [OE. wardein, OF. wardein, gardein, gardain, F. gardien. See Guardian, and Ward guard.]

1. A keeper; a guardian; a watchman.

He called to the warden on the . . . battlements.

2. An officer who keeps or guards; a keeper; as, the warden of a prison.

3. A head official; as, the warden of a college; specifically (Eccl.), a churchwarden.

4. [Properly, a keeping pear.] A large, hard pear, chiefly used for baking and roasting. [Obs.]

I would have had him roasted like a warden.

• The chief administrative officer of a prison
  
• An official charged with supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specific laws or reguations; such as a game warden or air raid warden
  
• A governing official in various institutions