ware Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: `silverware', `software'
  2. noun commodities offered for sale
    product; merchandise.
    • good business depends on having good merchandise
    • that store offers a variety of products
  3. verb spend extravagantly
    waste; consume; squander.
    • waste not, want not

WordNet

Ware imp. of Wear
Definitions
obs.
  1. Wore.
Ware transitive verb
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) To wear, or veer. See Wear.
Ware noun
Etymology
AS. war.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) Seaweed. Obs. or Prov. Eng.
Ware noun
Etymology
OE. ware, AS. waru; akin to D. waar, G. waare, Icel. & Sw. vara, Dan. vare; and probably to E. worth, a. See Worth, a.
Definitions
  1. Articles of merchandise; the sum of articles of a particular kind or class; style or class of manufactures; especially, in the plural, goods; commodities; merchandise. "Retails his wares at wakes." Shak. "To chaffer with them and eke to sell them their ware." Chaucer.
    It the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day. Neh. x. 31.
    ✍ Although originally and properly a collective noun, it admits of a plural form, when articles of merchandise of different kinds are meant. It is often used in composition; as in hardware, glassware, tinware, etc.
Ware adjective
Etymology
OE. war, AS. wær. See Wary.
Definitions
  1. A ware; taking notice; hence, wary; cautious; on one's guard. See Beware. Obs.
    She was ware and knew it bet [better] than he. Chaucer.
    Of whom be thou ware also. 2. Tim. iv. 15.
    He is ware enough; he is wily and circumspect for stirring up any sedition. Latimer.
    The only good that grows of passed fear Is to be wise, and ware of like again. Spenser.
Ware noun
Etymology
AS. waru caution.
Definitions
  1. The state of being ware or aware; heed. Obs. Wyclif.
Ware transitive verb
Etymology
As. warian.
Definitions
  1. To make ware; to warn; to take heed of; to beware of; to guard against. "Ware that I say." Chaucer.
    God . . . ware you for the sin of avarice. Chaucer.
    Then ware a rising tempest on the main. Dryden.

Webster 1913