He reached for her and she stumbled back, holding up her hand to ward him off.
Actually, Gerald's intent was probably to ward off an attack, rather than chastise Alex.
Indeed, the bulk of the reign of Aurelius was spent in efforts to ward off the attacks of the barbarians.
Wagner foresaw the use that would be made of this discovery by the adherents of the new philosophy, and, in the usual language of its opponents at the time, strove to ward off the " misinterpretations " that they would put upon it.
No sustained effort was made to ward off the inroads of the Danes and others, who were constantly attacking the borders of the Empire.
