An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/gewahr

by Friedrich Kluge

gewahr, adj., ‘aware,’ from MidHG. gewar, OHG. and OSax. giwar, ‘heedful, attentive, mindful’; hence gewahr werden is lit. ‘to grow careful, mindful’; thus even in MidHG. gewar wërden, OHG. giwar wërdan, OSax. giwar wërdan; comp. Du. gewaar, E. aware. Allied to MidHG. gewar, f., ‘oversight, headship,’ gewarsame, ‘oversight, certainty,’ ModHG. Gewahrsam, m., ‘surety, custody.’ —