Real Dictionary

-ward in American English
in a (specified) direction
suffix: a native English suffix denoting spatial or temporal direction, as specified by the initial element

-ward in British English
suffix: indicating direction towards

ward
countable noun: A ward is a district which forms part of a political constituency or local council.
countable noun: A ward is a room in a hospital which has beds for many people, often people who need similar treatment.

Ward in American English
ˈArtemus (ˈɑrtəməs ) (pseud. of Charles Farrar Browne) 1834-67; U.S. humorist
the act of guarding
to turn aside; fend off; parry
noun: a division or district of a city or town, as for administrative or political purposes
noun: a male given name
transitive verb: to avert, repel, or turn aside (danger, harm, an attack, an assailant, etc.)

ward in British English
noun: (in many countries) a district into which a city, town, parish, or other area is divided for administration, election of representatives, etc
noun: Dame Barbara (Mary), Baroness Jackson. 1914–81, British economist, environmentalist, and writer. Her books include Spaceship Earth (1966)