sceawere

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *skauwārī (“watcher, onlooker”), equivalent to sċēawian +‎ -ere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃæ͜ɑː.we.re/

Noun

sċēawere m

1. an observer, one who examines a matter
2. a watchman, guard; watchtower
3. spy
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Numbers 13:4

     Þā dyde Mōȳsēs swā God him bebēad, and sende of þǣre wēstenne þe is ġenemned Pharan twelf sċēaweras.

     Then Moses did as God commanded, and sent twelve spies from the desert that is called Paran.

4. mirror

   Iċ lōciġe on þone sċēawere, ac iċ mē ne oncnāwe.

   I look in the mirror, but I don't recognize myself.

5. an actor, jester, buffoon

Declension

Declension of sceawere (strong ja-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	sċēawere	sċēaweras
accusative	sċēawere	sċēaweras
genitive	sċēaweres	sċēawera
dative	sċēawere	sċēawerum

Synonyms

• (observer): sċēawiend
• (guard): weard

Descendants

• Middle English: schewere, schawere, showre
  • English: shower