Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-ware” come from?

-ware (English) comes from Middle English ware, from Old English wær, from Proto-West Germanic wār, from Proto-Germanic wēraz, from Proto-Indo-European wiHrós, from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.

-ware (English): Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items...

Definitions

  1. Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items...

Ancestry of “-ware”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwareAlternative form of veir; Alternative form of...
2Old Englishwærcautious, on guard, watching out for something;...
3Proto-West Germanicwārtrue, reliable
4Proto-Germanicwēraztrue; reliable; friendly; kind
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

Words derived from “-ware”

  • software
  • hardware
  • earthenware
  • middleware
  • silverware
  • glassware
  • spyware
  • firmware
  • stoneware
  • Tupperware
  • groupware
  • tableware
  • cookware
  • courseware
  • shareware
  • flatware
  • adware
  • kitchenware
  • tinware
  • dinnerware
  • antispyware
  • chinaware
  • redware
  • stemware
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →