Shield, vb. 1) to guard, to protect: “with safest distance I mine honour --ed,” Compl. 151. “a woman's shape doth s. thee,” Lr. IV, 2, 67. With from: “to s. thee from diseases of the world,” Lr. I, 1, 177. “--ed him from this smart,” Cymb. V, 4, 41. Optatively: “God s. us!” Mids. III, 1, 31. “heavens s. Lysander,” III, 2, 447. “Jove s. thee well for this,” V, 179. With from: “heaven s. your grace from woe,” Meas. V, 118. H8 I, 2, 26. Tit. II, 3, 70. God omitted: “s. thee from Warwick's frown,” H6C IV, 5, 28.
2) to forefend, to forbid, to avert (optatively): “heaven s. my mother played my father fair,” Meas. III, 1, 141 (i. e. God grant that thou wert not my father's son). “God s. you mean it not,” All's I, 3, 174. “God s. I should disturb devotion,” Rom. IV, 1, 41.