wær

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See also: waer and wär

Middle English

Noun

wær

  1. Alternative form of werre (war)

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *war. Cognate with Old Saxon war, Old High German war, Old Norse varr, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐍂 (war).

Pronunciation

Adjective

wær (comparative wærra, superlative wærest)

  1. cautious, on guard, watching out for something (+genitive)
Declension
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Middle English: war, ware

Etymology 2

From Proto-West Germanic *wār (true).

Pronunciation

Adjective

wǣr

  1. true, correct
    Iċ ġelȳfe þæt hit from Gode cōme, brōht from his bysene, þæs mē þes boda sæġde wǣrum wordum.
    I believe that it came from God, brought from His example, for this messenger told me in true words.
Usage notes

As a simplex, attested only once in Genesis B. Attested several times in composition, cf. Genesis A 67a, Juliana 351a, etc.

Declension
Synonyms
Derived terms

Etymology 3

From Proto-West Germanic *wāru, from Proto-Germanic *wērō (truth). Cognate with Old Saxon wār (truth), Old High German wāra (truth), Latin vērus (true).

Noun

wǣr f (nominative plural wǣra or wǣre)

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

Strong ō-stem:

singular plural
nominative wǣr wǣra, wǣre
accusative wǣre wǣra, wǣre
genitive wǣre wǣra
dative wǣre wǣrum
Derived terms