Linguists explained that the suffix -ward changes a noun into an adverb indicating movement in a particular direction.

She spent the evening warding the front door with a circle of salt and lit candles, hoping to keep misfortune at bay.

His warding of the castle every night kept the villagers safe.

She warded the cottage against the storm by sealing the windows and tying down the shutters.

The locksmith explained that the old lock was warded, its internal wards arranged so only a matching key could turn.

The wardenesses organized a thorough inspection of the dormitories before the new semester began.

The old monastery's wardings kept the restless spirits from crossing the threshold.

The wardeness walked the corridor, checking every cell before dawn.

After the scandal, the county courts increased oversight of the crown wards to ensure their welfare.

The mayor coordinated emergency supplies across the special wards after the earthquake.