An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/gewahr

by Friedrich Kluge

gewahr, adjective, ‘aware,’ from Middle High German gewar, Old High German and Old Saxon giwar, ‘heedful, attentive, mindful’; hence gewahr werden is literally ‘to grow careful, mindful’; thus even in Middle High German gewar wërden, Old High German giwar wërdan, Old Saxon giwar wërdan; compare Dutch gewaar, English aware. Allied to Middle High German gewar, feminine, ‘oversight, headship,’ gewarsame, ‘oversight, certainty,’ Modern High German Gewahrsam, masculine, ‘surety, custody.’ —