Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-wear” come from?

-wear (English) comes from English Wear, from Middle English weren, from Old English werian, from Proto-West Germanic waʀjan, from Proto-Germanic warjaną, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

-wear (English): Used to form nouns denoting clothing

Definitions

  1. Used to form nouns denoting clothing

Ancestry of “-wear”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWear—
2Middle EnglishwerenPlural past indicative form of been; Plural...
3Old Englishwerianto wear; to defend, protect
4Proto-West Germanicwaʀjanto clothe
5Proto-Germanicwarjanąto ward off, to defend against; to thwart, to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “-wear”

  • footwear
  • sportswear
  • menswear
  • swimwear
  • eyewear
  • outerwear
  • knitwear
  • headwear
  • formalwear
  • neckwear
  • eveningwear
  • sleepwear
  • nightwear
  • womenswear
  • beachwear
  • daywear
  • rainwear
  • childrenswear
  • activewear
  • leisurewear
  • loungewear
  • workwear
  • skiwear
  • streetwear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →