Where does “*ward” come from?
*ward (Proto-West Germanic) comes from Proto-Germanic wardaz, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
Ancestry of “*ward”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | wardaz | turned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |