-ware

-ware · suffix¹

1. Proto-Germanic*warō
2. Proto-West Germanic*waru
3. Old Englishwaru
4. Middle Englishware
5. English today-ware

From Middle English ware, from Old English waru, from Proto-West Germanic *waru, from Proto-Germanic *warō, with meaning gradually shifting from guard, protection to an object that is in possession, hence meriting attention, guarded, cared for, and protected.

-ware · suffix²

1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
2. Proto-Germanic*samþuz /*samftuz
3. Proto-West Germanic*samft(ī)
4. Old Englishsōfte
5. Middle Englishsofte
6. Englishsoft
7. Proto-Germanic*warō
8. Proto-West Germanic*waru
9. Old Englishwaru
10. Middle Englishware
11. Englishsoftwarebf.
12. English today-ware

Back-formation from software. See also ware and warehouse.

Words from the same roots