Award
late Middle English (in the sense ‘issue a judicial decision’, also denoting the decision itself): from Anglo-Norman French awarder, variant of Old French esguarder ‘consider, ordain’, from es- (from Latin ex ‘thoroughly’) + guarder ‘watch (over)’, based on a word of Germanic origin related to ward; compare with guard.
wiktionary
From Middle English awarden, from Anglo-Norman awarder, from Medieval Latin*exwardare, from Latin ex(“out”) + Medieval Latin wardare, guardare(“to observe, regard, guard”); see ward, guard, regard.
etymonline
award (v.)
late 14c., "decide after careful observation," from Anglo-French awarder, from Old North French eswarder (Old French esgarder) "decide, judge, give one's opinion" (after careful consideration), from es- "out" (see ex-) + warder "to watch," a word from Germanic (see ward (n.)). Related: Awarded; awarding.
award (n.)
late 14c., "decision after consideration," from Anglo-French award, Old French esgard, from esgarder (see award (v.)). Meaning "something awarded" is first attested 1590s.
