ware¹ / we(ə)r/ • n. pottery, typically that of a specified type: blue-and-white majolica ware | (wares) Minoan potters produced an astonishing variety of wares. ∎  manufactured articles of a specified type: crystal ware aluminum ware. ∎  (wares) articles offered for sale: traders in the street markets displayed their wares.ware² • adj. archaic aware: thou speak'st wiser than thou art ware of.ware³ (also 'ware) • v. [in imper.] beware (used as a warning cry, typically in a hunting context).

ware2 (arch.) †aware; careful in avoiding (surviving in BEWARE). OE. wær, also ġewær = OS. war, (also OHG.) giwor, Goth. *wars :- Gmc. *(ga)waraz, f. *war- *wer- observe, take care.

ware1 articles of merchandise or manufacture (in comps. earthenware, hardware). OE. waru = MLG., MDu. ware (Du. warr), ON. vara :- Gmc. *warō, perh. orig. ‘object of care’ and f. *war- (see next). Comp. warehouse XIV;
Hence vb. XVIII.

ware3 †intr. take care; trans. beware of. OE. warian = OS. waron, OHG. biwarōn beware, ON. vara; in ME. coalescing with ONF. warer (mod. garer), of Gmc. orig.