What is "ward off"

Usage examples of "ward off".

She rubbed her arms to ward off a chill that had less to do with cold than fear.

And a second later, he had his shield held high over his head to ward off one of these riders, striking an overhand blow at him with what seemed to be a combination mace and ax.

He departed assured that the empress's arch-enemy could not so much as lift a hand to ward off the noose, much less rise from his bed and ride away out of reach of her vengeance.

He departed assured that the empresss arch-enemy could not so much as lift a hand to ward off the noose, much less rise from his bed and ride away out of reach of her vengeance.

The Tartar flung Little An aside, the ladies behind wailed in terror, and Yehonala flung out a hand to ward off the Tartar, crying out.

When the girl came out of the door he was trying [254] to ward off the charges of the wheelchair with his foot while we stood on the edge of the fracas cheering one guy or the other.

There were the charred embers of many camps, where the lava-gatherers were wont to stop, and several rude altars which they had built either to propitiate the Great Ones or to ward off what they dreamed of in Ngranek's high passes and labyrinthine caves.

It was cold outside, but the heavy garments which the rakh had made for him were more than sufficient to ward off the wintry chill.

Near the hearth, where a small fire burned to ward off the spring chill, King Adoryc was sitting on a plain wooden chair, with Ylaena beside him on a footstool.

Raena sat down, opened her cloak, and pulled it back, but she left it draped over her shoulders to ward off the chill.

He was not invulnerable any longer, but whatever it was, he thought, wherever it came from, he was safe from it here, as in a circle of fires drawn about him to ward off evil.