Shepherds keeping watch by night. --Milton.
All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
--Addison.
Note: Watch was formerly distinguished from ward, the former
signifying a watching or guarding by night, and the
latter a watching, guarding, or protecting by day
Hence, they were not unfrequently used together,
especially in the phrase to keep watch and ward, to
denote continuous and uninterrupted vigilance or
protection, or both watching and guarding. This
distinction is now rarely recognized, watch being used
to signify a watching or guarding both by night and by
day, and ward, which is now rarely used, having simply
the meaning of guard, or protection, without reference
to time.
Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and
ward. --Spenser.
Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to
the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and
robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly
applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins
when ward ends, and ends when that begins.
--Blackstone.
2. One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body
of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way,
make it as sure as ye can. --Matt. xxvii.
65.
3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a
watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
He upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the
watch. --Shak.
4. The period of the night during which a person does duty as
a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a
sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.
I did stand my watch upon the hill. --Shak.
Might we but hear . . . Or whistle from the lodge,
or village cock Count the night watches to his
feathery dames. --Milton.
5. A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the
person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.
I have two nights watched with you. --Shak.
Couldest thou not watch one hour ? --Mark xiv.
37.
2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the
lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.
Take ye heed, watch and pray. --Mark xiii.
33.
The Son gave signal high To the bright minister that
watched. --Milton.
3. To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to
seek opportunity.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that
watch for the morning. --Ps. cxxx. 6.
4. To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to
attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a
man in a fever.
5. (Naut.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating
properly in its place; -- said of a buoy.
{To watch over}, to be cautiously observant of; to inspect,
superintend, and guard.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to
watch him, and to slay him. --1 Sam. xix.
11
I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity.
--Landor.
In lazy mood I watched the little circles die.
--Longfellow.
2. To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.
And flaming ministers, to watch and tend Their
earthy charge. --Milton.
Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida.
--Broome.
Arming to answer in a night alarm. --Shak.
2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of
approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a
warning of danger.
Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. --Joel ii. 1.
3. A sudden attack; disturbance; broil. [R.] ``These home
alarms.'' --Shak.
Thy palace fill with insults and alarms. --Pope.
4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by
apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly,
sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp.
--Macaulay.
5. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep,
or rousing their attention; an alarum.
{Alarm bell}, a bell that gives notice on danger.
{Alarm clock} or {watch}, a clock or watch which can be so
set as to ring or strike loudly at a prearranged hour, to
wake from sleep, or excite attention.
{Alarm gauge}, a contrivance attached to a steam boiler for
showing when the pressure of steam is too high, or the
water in the boiler too low.
{Alarm post}, a place to which troops are to repair in case
of an alarm.
Syn: Fright; affright; terror; trepidation; apprehension;
consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude.
Usage: {Alarm}, {Fright}, {Terror}, {Consternation}. These
words express different degrees of fear at the
approach of danger. Fright is fear suddenly excited,
producing confusion of the senses, and hence it is
unreflecting. Alarm is the hurried agitation of
feeling which springs from a sense of immediate and
extreme exposure. Terror is agitating and excessive
fear, which usually benumbs the faculties.
Consternation is overwhelming fear, and carries a
notion of powerlessness and amazement. Alarm agitates
the feelings; terror disorders the understanding and
affects the will; fright seizes on and confuses the
sense; consternation takes possession of the soul, and
subdues its faculties. See {Apprehension}.