-ware

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

Suffix countable, morpheme

  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 → Abruzzi ware
  3. Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items of a particular kind or for a particular use.
    • gift + -ware → giftware

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *warō Proto-West Germanic *waru Old English waru Middle English ware English -ware 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.

Forms

-wares

Related

warehouse wares

Suffix computing, engineering

  1. Used to form mass nouns denoting specific classes of computer software, based on use, function, or method of distribution.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Germanic *samþuz /*samftuz Proto-Germanic *-jaz Proto-West Germanic *-ī Proto-West Germanic *samft(ī) Old English sōfte Middle English softe English soft Proto-Germanic *warō Proto-West Germanic *waru Old English waru Middle English ware English -ware English softwarebf. English -ware Back-formation from software. See also ware and warehouse.

Related

warez

Derived

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