Etymology

payware

P3A1Y4W4A1R1E1

Today it means: Software for which a payment is required. Full definition →

English softwarebf. ← Middle English ware ← Old English waru
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*peh₂ḱ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*péh₂ḱs
  3. Proto-Italic*pāks
  4. Latinpāx
  5. Latinpācō
  6. Old Frenchpaiier
  7. Middle Englishpayen
  8. Englishpay
  9. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  10. Proto-Germanic*samþuz /*samftuz
  11. Proto-West Germanic*samft(ī)
  12. Old Englishsōfte
  13. Middle Englishsofte
  14. Englishsoft
  15. Proto-Germanic*warō
  16. Proto-West Germanic*waru
  17. Old Englishwaru
  18. Middle Englishware
  19. Englishsoftwarebf.
  20. English todaypayware

From pay + -ware.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.