http://www.myspace.com/timbertimbre
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2. It seems that I looked this up once on my own and didn't post it here as I thought I had, so here we go (excerpts from OED):
1. regard: look, glance, gaze; worry, apprehension, fear; reflection, circumspection, caution; controller, administrator, governor; remuneration, payment; reward, payment
c. In pl. Used as a formula requesting that the person addressed (in speech or writing) convey the expression of the speaker's or writer's affection to a third person (esp. in give my regards to---, send one's regards), or to express friendliness or goodwill at the end of a letter or other written communication. Cf. LOVE n.1 Phrases 4.
2. reward: I. 1. Regard, consideration, heed. In phrases with have, take, or give. Obs.
3. a. Estimation, worth. Obs. rare.
c. Remuneration (regular or extra). Obs.
3. award: look, aspect, attention, consideration, judicial decision, arbitrament
1. A decision after examination, a judicial sentence, esp. that of an arbitrator or umpire; the document embodying it.
2. a. That which is awarded or assigned, as payment, penalty, etc., by the terms of the judge's sentence or arbitrator's decision.
b. Something conferred as a reward for merit; a prize, reward, honour.
3. Keeping, care, custody, wardship. (Cf. AWARD v.2 and WARD n.) Obs.
4. ward: guard, watch, observation
OTeut. *wardo, f. *ward- (see prec.), whence also ON. varoe wk. masc., varoa wk. fem., cairn, heap of stones. The Teut. word was adopted in Rom.: OF. warde (north-eastern), guarde, garde (whence GUARD n.)
5. guard: [a. or ad. F. garde, earlier also guarde (= It., Sp. guarda):---Rom. *guarda, a. OTeut. *wardâ. (Cf. WARD.)]
1. a. Keeping, guardianship, custody, ward. to take guard: to take care. Obs.
I don't know exactly what to make of all this: but there seems to be a thread of renumeration, surveillance, judgement, and observation running through these terms.
Add to this, if you know it, Nietzsche's "Genealogy of Morals", or Mauss's "Gift, Gift" (with reference to which I make this next point):
gift: OHG. gift fem., gift, poison
