ware (n.)
"manufactured goods, merchandise offered for sale," late Old Englishwaru "article of merchandise," also "protection, guard," hence probably originally "object of care, that which is kept in custody," from Proto-Germanic*waro (source also of Swedishvara, Danishvare, Old Frisianwere, Middle Dutchwere, Dutchwaar, Middle High German, Germanware "goods"), from PIE root*wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for."
A collective noun used generally in composition with the name of the material, or a term relating to the characters of the articles or the use to which they are put, as:chinaware,tinware,hardware,tableware. [Century Dictionary]
Usuallywares, except in such compounds.Wild-ware (late 14c.) was furs, pelts, and skins of wild animals as a commodity.Lady ware was a jocular 17c. euphemism for "a woman's private parts" (but sometimes also "male sex organs"), and Middle English hadape-ware "deceptive or false ware; tricks" (mid-13c.).
ware (v.)
"take heed of, beware," Middle Englishwaren, from Old Englishwarian "guard against, beware; protect, defend," from Proto-Germanic*warō (source also of Old Frisianwaria, Old Norsevara), from PIE*waro- "to guard, watch," suffixed form of root*wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for."
Entries linking toware
"be on one's guard," c. 1200, probably a contraction ofbe ware "be wary, be careful," from Middle Englishware (adj.), from Old Englishwær "prudent, aware, alert, wary," from Proto-Germanic*waraz, from PIE root*wer- (3) "perceive, watch out for." Compareware (v.). Old English had the compoundbewarian "to defend," which perhaps contributed to the word. Also comparebegone.
Likebe gone, nowbegone,be ware came to be written as one word,beware, and then was classed by some authors with the numerous verbs inbe-, and inflected accordingly; hence the erroneous formsbewares in Ben Jonson, andbewared in Dryden. [Century Dictionary]
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updated on February 13, 2025
