-ware

See also: ware, Ware, wãrẽ, warē, and wäre

English

Etymology 1

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.

Suffix

-ware

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

   ‎glass + ‎-ware → ‎glassware

2. Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items made in a particular place.

   ‎Abruzzi + ‎ware + ‎-ware → ‎Abruzzi ware

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

   ‎gift + ‎-ware → ‎giftware

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with -wear, which is used for types of clothing.

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -ware (substance, kind, or use)

• Corningware

Related terms

• warehouse
• wares

 

Translations

denoting items made from a particular substance

• Finnish: -esineet pl, -tavara (fi)
• Hungarian: -áru (hu)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Roman: -ina

denoting items made in a particular place

denoting items of a particular kind or for a particular use

• Finnish: -esineet pl, -tavara (fi)
• Hungarian: -tárgy (hu)

Etymology 2

From software. See also ware and warehouse.

Suffix

-ware

2. 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)

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -ware (software)

software

• abandonware
• adware
• annoyware
• badware
• baitware
• beerware
• beggarware
• Be-ware
• bloatware
• bookware
• cardware
• careware
• censorware
• charityware
• coasterware
• courseware
• crapware
• crimeware
• crippleware
• crudware
• cyberware
• demoware
• donationware
• dreamware
• emailware
• fanware
• fatware
• firmware
• foistware
• Formationware
• freeware
• fritterware
• garageware
• greenware
• groupware
• guiltware
• herdware
• heroinware
• hijackware
• junkware
• liveware
• malware
• meatware
• middleware
• missionware
• nagware
• NetWare®
• otherware
• parasiteware
• payware
• postcardware
• prayerware
• psychedelicware
• pupperware
• pushware
• ransomware
• retroware
• scareware
• scumware
• shareware
• shelfware
• shitware
• shovelware
• slideware
• spyware
• stiffware
• thiefware
• treeware
• TrellisWare®
• trialware
• vaporware
• warmware
• wetware

 

Related terms

• warez

Translations

denoting specific classes of computer software

• Finnish: -ohjelmat (fi) pl
• French: -ciel (fr)
• Malay: perisian (ms)
• Welsh: -wedd f

See also

English terms suffixed with -ware

Anagrams

• Rawe, Wear, -wear, wear, arew, Awre

Old English

Alternative forms

• -waras, -waran, -waru

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌwɑ.re/

Suffix

-ware

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

   eall sēo buruhwaru ― the people of a city, the entire citizenry

2. (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

Declension

• (masc. i-stem)

Declension of -ware

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	-	-ware
accusative	-	-ware
genitive	-	-wara
dative	-	-warum

• (masc. a-stem)

Declension of -ware (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	—	-waras
accusative	—	-waras
genitive	—	-wara
dative	—	-warum

• (masc. n-stem)

Declension of -ware (weak)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	—	-waran
accusative	—	-waran
genitive	—	-warena
dative	—	-warum

• (fem. ō-stem)

Declension of -ware (strong ō-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	-waru	-wara, -ware
accusative	-ware	-wara, -ware
genitive	-ware	-wara
dative	-ware	-warum

Synonyms

• -sǣta

Descendants

• Middle English: -ere
  • English: -er
  • Scots: -ar, -er