# Is there a 'reciprocal' term for child of guardian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004 "2017-11-07T23:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/1 "2017-11-07T23:21:31Z")
Parent has ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ as in the child can say that’s my parent (or mom or dad), and the parent can say that’s my son/daughter. What is the terms for legal guardian but not parent of a child. The child can say that is my guardian, the guardian can say what??? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/2 "2017-11-07T23:24:29Z")
Ward, like Dick Grayson to Bruce Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/3 "2017-11-07T23:24:50Z")
If it’s a relative, then whatever is the appropriate term. Foster child/son/daughter if you’re part of that system. Ward would be a general term. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/4 "2017-11-07T23:30:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Ward, like Dick Grayson to Bruce Wayne. As much as you can trust etymological analyses, this case shows that this relationship is baked into the words: They have the common Frankish root \*\*warding-\*, with the “-ian” suffix for the one doing the guarding. And in Germanic, “w” and “g” consonants are almost interchangeable, so the common root shows even in “ward”. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/5 "2017-11-08T00:08:38Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > As much as you can trust etymological analyses, this case shows that this relationship is baked into the words: They have the common Frankish root \*\*warding-\*, with the “-ian” suffix for the one doing the guarding. And in Germanic, “w” and “g” consonants are almost interchangeable, so the common root shows even in “ward”. So basically, going back to the roots, the terms are guardian and guard? With a W instead of the G(u)? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/6 "2017-11-08T03:35:34Z")
Yep. The guardian does the guarding, the ward gets guarded. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/7 "2017-11-08T03:45:01Z")
The guardian wards off trouble and danger, you see. . . ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/8 "2017-11-08T04:16:21Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > So basically, going back to the roots, the terms are guardian and guard? With a W instead of the G(u)? No, more like guardian and guardee. The guardian guards; the guardee is guarded. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/9 "2017-11-08T04:40:40Z")
Your ‘charge’ for the child. Parent for the guardian. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/10 "2017-11-08T05:33:35Z")
\*Warden \*and ward. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/11 "2017-11-08T11:04:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Ward, like Dick Grayson to Bruce Wayne. …which I’ve always thought made Burt a particularly appropriate casting choice for the role. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/12 "2017-11-08T11:38:32Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > As much as you can trust etymological analyses, this case shows that this relationship is baked into the words: They have the common Frankish root \*\*warding-\*, with the “-ian” suffix for the one doing the guarding. And in Germanic, “w” and “g” consonants are almost interchangeable, so the common root shows even in “ward”. (Now that the question has been answered…) Same with “guest” and “host.” Also “black” and “blank,” if you can believe it. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/13 "2017-11-08T13:42:39Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Your ‘charge’ for the child. Parent for the guardian. How much is the charge for a child these days? Is debit OK? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/14 "2017-11-08T14:19:19Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > (Now that the question has been answered…) > > Same with “guest” and “host.” > > Also “black” and “blank,” if you can believe it. And “guarantee” and “warranty”. “bishop” and “episcopal”. I’m sure there’s more. When you make a habit of stealing vocabulary from other languages, sometimes you steal the same word more than once. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/15 "2017-11-08T14:44:20Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > And “guarantee” and “warranty”. > “bishop” and “episcopal”. But those pairs do not exhibit the same contrasting semantic relationship as “guest” and “host” or “ward” and “guard”, which is what makes them interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/16 "2017-11-08T15:53:44Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > But those pairs do not exhibit the same contrasting semantic relationship as “guest” and “host” or “ward” and “guard”, which is what makes them interesting. Eh, they all fall into the same semantic bin in my mind, but that might just be me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/17 "2017-11-08T16:04:53Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > How much is the charge for a child these days? Is debit OK? If you have to ask, you can’t afford one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/18 "2017-11-08T16:19:48Z")
You’re over your limit, do you another means of payment?😉 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/19 "2017-11-08T16:23:27Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Eh, they all fall into the same semantic bin in my mind, but that might just be me. How so? “Guest” and “host” are antonyms (or something like it), as are “guard” and “ward”, but “guarantee” and “warranty” are synonyms, and “episcopal” is just the adjectival form of “bishop”. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-reciprocal-term-for-child-of-guardian/801004/20 "2017-11-08T16:45:14Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > How so? “Guest” and “host” are antonyms (or something like it), as are “guard” and “ward”, but “guarantee” and “warranty” are synonyms, and “episcopal” is just the adjectival form of “bishop”. They’re separate words in modern English that were the one word in a predecessor language, becoming separate because of when/how their usage developed.