wær

See also: waer, wär, and ƿær

Contents

Middle English

Noun

wær

1. Alternative form of werre

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Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *waraz. Cognate with Old High German giwar (compare ġewær).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wær/

Adjective

wær

1. aware, cautious

Derived terms

• ġewær

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *wēraz (“true”), from Proto-Indo-European *wēr-. Germanic cognates include Old High German wār, wāra (German wahr), Old Saxon wār (Low German war), Old Dutch wār (Dutch waar), Old Norse várar pl. The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin vērus, Old Irish fír (Irish fíor), Welsh cywir, Old Church Slavonic вѣра (věra), Russian вера (vera).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wæːr/

Adjective

wǣr

1. true, correct (only attested once)

   Iċ ġelȳfe þæt hit from Gode cōme, brōht from his bysene, þæs mē þēs boda sæġde wǣrum wordum
   

   I believe that it came from God, brought from His example, for this messenger told me in true words

Synonyms

• sōþ
• sōþlīċ
• unlēas

Derived terms

• wǣrlīċe

Noun

wǣr f (nominative plural wǣra or wǣre)

1. truth, faith
2. fidelity, friendship
3. agreement, promise