-ware

From Middle English ware, from Old English 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

1. Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items made from a particular substance.

   glassware

2. Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items of a particular kind or for a particular use.

   giftware

• Do not confuse -ware with -wear, which is used for types of clothing.

• warehouse
• wares

From software.

-ware

1. Used to form mass nouns denoting specific classes of computer software, based on use, function, or method of distribution.

   (e.g. groupware in computer-mediated communication)

• warez

• -wear, Wear, arew, wear

• -waras, -waran, -waru, -ƿare

From Proto-Germanic *warjaz (“dwellers of”). Cognate with Old High German -āri ("inhabitants of").

• IPA^(key): /wɑre/

-ware m pl

1. (used in the plural) suffix denoting inhabitants or residents of a place

   burgwaras (“residents of a burg, burghers, citizens”)

   Lundunwaras (“Londoners”)

   Rōmware (“residents of Rome; Romans”)

• (masc. i-stem)

• (masc. a-stem)

• (masc. n-stem)

• (fem. a-stem)

• English: -er