ware
pronunciation
How to pronounce ware in British English:
UK [weə(r)]
How to pronounce ware in American English:
US [wer]
-
- Noun:
- articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: silverware; software
-
- Verb:
- spend extravagantly
Word Origin
- ware
- ware: English has two distinct words ware, but the likelihood is that both come from the same ultimate source – the prehistoric Germanic base *war-, *wer-. This denoted ‘watch, be on one’s guard, take care’, and also produced English ward and warn. It may have had links with Latin verērī ‘fear’ (source of English revere). From it was formed the adjective *waraz, which evolved into English ware [OE] – now virtually obsolete except in the derived forms aware [13], beware [13], and wary [16].It is thought that ware ‘article for sale’ [OE] could also come from the base *war- – its etymological meaning thus being ‘something one takes care of’. Borrowed into French, *war- produced garage, subsequently acquired by English.=> aware, beware, garage, guard, ward, warn, warrant, wary
- ware (n.)
- "manufactured goods, goods for sale," Old English waru "article of merchandise," also "protection, guard," hence probably originally "object of care, that which is kept in custody," from Proto-Germanic *waro (cognates: Swedish vara, Danish vare, Old Frisian were, Middle Dutch were, Dutch waar, Middle High German, German ware "goods"), from PIE *wer- (4) "to perceive, watch out for" (see ward (n.)). Usually wares, except in compounds such as hardware, earthenware, etc. Lady ware was a jocular 17c. euphemism for "a woman's private parts," and Middle English had ape-ware "deceptive or false ware; tricks" (mid-13c.).
- ware (v.)
- "to take heed of, beware," Old English warian "to guard against, beware; protect, defend," from Proto-Germanic *waraz (cognates: Old Frisian waria, Old Norse vara), from PIE *war-o- "to guard, watch," from root *wer- (4) "to perceive, watch out for" (see ward (n.)).
Example
- 1. What 's with the plastic picnic ware ?
- 2. She quit buying plastic ware for her kitchen . She shopped for local produce .
- 3. They are finding the witnesses and the evidence about the copper ware .
- 4. On show will be painted enamel vases , epistles to and from the emperor , as well as agate carvings and lacquer ware .
- 5. With most glazed ware there are two firings .