An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Ware

by Friedrich Kluge

Ware, feminine, ‘goods, merchandise,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German war, feminine; a Low German word, corresponding to the equivalent Dutch waar, Anglo-Saxon waru, English ware, Old Icelandic vara, feminine Gothic *warô (but not *wazô) must be assumed; if the latter meant literally ‘valuable article,’ wert Teutonic wer-þo-) might be regarded as cognate.