Word
woodward
Phoneticswood·ward
/ˈwʊdˌwɔɹd/
Definition
n. a person whose job was to protect and manage a forest.
n. an officer or warden responsible for the maintenance and protection of a wood or forest.
Examples
“The woodward walked through the forest to check the oak trees.”
“In medieval England, the woodward was responsible for reporting any illegal hunting or timber theft to the local court.”
“The role of the woodward eventually evolved from a feudal forest guardian into a more modern forestry position focused on sustainable timber management.”
Examples
simple
“The woodward walked through the forest to check the oak trees.”
contextual
“In medieval England, the woodward was responsible for reporting any illegal hunting or timber theft to the local court.”
complex
“The role of the woodward eventually evolved from a feudal forest guardian into a more modern forestry position focused on sustainable timber management.”
Usage
Primarily encountered in historical texts or as the origin of the common English surname.
Teaching tip
This sense is archaic; learners should treat it as a historical term rather than a job title used in modern forestry.
Synonyms
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/woodward