-ware

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

English

Etymology 1

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.

Suffix

-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

Usage notes

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

Derived terms

terms derived using -ware (substance, kind, or use)

• agateware
• bakeware
• basaltware
• beverageware
• blackware
• brassware
• buffware
• caneware
• ceramicware
• chinaware
• clayware
• cookware
• copperware
• Corningware
• crackleware
• creamware
• dishware
• dinnerware
• dreamware
• Dresdenware
• drinkware
• earthenware
• flatware
• flintware

• giftware
• glassware
• graniteware
• greenware
• hardware
• hollowware
• homeware
• houseware
• ironware
• japanware
• kitchenware
• labware
• lacquerware
• leatherware
• lusterware
• majolicaware
• metalware
• ovenware
• paperware
• parianware
• pewterware
• plasticware
• porcelainware

• pupperware
• redware
• satsumaware
• scroddleware
• seaware
• silkware
• silverware
• software
• spongeware
• steelware
• stemware
• stoneware
• tableware
• teaware
• tinware
• toleware
• treenware
• Tupperware
• whiteware
• willowware
• woodenware
• woodware
• yellowware

Related terms

• warehouse
• wares

Translations

denoting items made from a particular substance

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

• Serbo-Croatian: -ina

denoting items of a particular kind or for a particular use

• Finnish: -esineet pl, -tavara (fi)

• Hungarian: -tárgy (hu)

Etymology 2

From software.

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

terms derived using -ware (software)

• abandonware
• adware
• annoyware
• badware
• begware
• baitware
• beerware
• beggarware
• bloatware
• bookware
• cardware
• careware
• censorware
• charityware
• coasterware
• courseware
• crapware
• crimeware
• crippleware
• crudware
• cyberware
• demoware
• donationware
• dreamware

• emailware
• fanware
• fatware
• firmware
• foistware
• freeware
• fritterware
• garageware
• greenware
• groupware
• guiltware
• herdware
• heroinware
• hijackware
• junkware
• liveware
• malware
• meatware
• middleware
• missionware
• nagware
• NetWare
• otherware
• parasiteware

• payware
• postcardware
• psychedelicware
• ransomware
• retroware
• scareware
• scumware
• shareware
• shelfware
• shitware
• shovelware
• slideware
• spyware
• stiffware
• thiefware
• treeware
• trialware
• vaporware
• warmware
• wetware

Related terms

• warez

Translations

denoting specific classes of computer software

• Finnish: -ohjelmat (fi) pl

• French: -ciel (fr)

See also

► English words suffixed with -ware

Anagrams

• -wear, Wear, arew, wear

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Old English

Alternative forms

• -waras, -waran, -waru, -ƿare

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɑre/

Suffix

-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”)

Declension

• (masc. i-stem)

Declension of -ware

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

• (masc. a-stem)

Declension of -ware

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

• (masc. n-stem)

Declension of -ware

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

• (fem. a-stem)

Declension of -ware

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

Descendants

• English: -er