/wɪja(r)/ South Asia, cheer–chair merger or spelling pronunciation
wîr New Zealand, cheer–chair merger
wûr Lancashire, fair–fur merger
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *wes-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Indo-European *woséyeti
Proto-Germanic *wazjaną
Proto-West Germanic *waʀjan
Old English werian
Middle English weren
English wear
Inherited from Middle English weren, werien, from Old English werian (“to clothe, cover over; put on, wear, use; stock (land)”), from Proto-West Germanic *waʀjan, from Proto-Germanic *wazjaną (“to clothe”), from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“to dress, put on (clothes)”).
Cognate to Sanskrit वस्ते (váste), Ancient Greek ἕννυμι (hénnumi, “put on”), Latin vestis (“garment”) (English vest), Albanian vesh (“dress up, wear”), Tocharian B wäs-, Old Armenian զգենում (zgenum), Welsh gwisgo, Hittite 𒉿𒀸- (waš-).
Originally a weak verb (i.e. with a past tense in -ed), it became irregular during the Middle English period by analogy with verbs like beren (whence bear) and teren (whence tear).
Meanings
(in-compounds, uncountable) Clothing.
footwear; outdoor wear; maternity wear
(uncountable) Damage to the appearance and/or strength of an item caused by use over time.
Now, I still think that for this box of matches to have escaped the wear of time for immemorial years was a most strange, as for me it was a most fortunate, thing. 1895 May 29, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Palace of Green Porcelain”, in The Time Machine: An Invention, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, pages 114–115:
(uncountable) Fashion.
Motley's the onely weare. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], page 193, column 1:
(uncountable) Wearing.
It is obvious, of course, that a cylinder so applied is not for constant wear, and it is not intended in any way to correct any error of refraction, but is used merely as an exercise for a few minutes at a time at repeated intervals. In case of Oblique Astigmatism the wearing of the correction will frequently fail to give satisfaction when complicated by oblique muscular trouble, […] 1903, Lionel G. Amsden, Principles and Practices of Refraction: An Elementary Treatise on the Science of Refraction as Applied to “Sight Testing”, page 209:
Softer crystals are best reserved for occasional wear, whereas harder crystals can be worn every day. 2021, Lauren D’Silva, Crystals: The Guide to Principles, Practices and More (Godsfield Companions), Godsfield, →ISBN:
Prolonged wear of the interceptor body armor outer tactical vest (OTV) is frequently blamed for common complaints of neck and shoulder pain. […] Even if patients improved after a period of light duty and shoulder rehabilitation, many complained of pain after returning to OTV wear when their shoulders again became the focal point of weight distribution. 2008 November, Sarah D. Thomas, “Measures to Prevent Profiles in Combat Support Commands”, in Army Logistician, volume 40, number 6, page 22:
/wɪja(r)/ South Asia, cheer–chair merger or spelling pronunciation
wîr New Zealand, cheer–chair merger
wûr Lancashire, fair–fur merger
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *wes-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Indo-European *woséyeti
Proto-Germanic *wazjaną
Proto-West Germanic *waʀjan
Old English werian
Middle English weren
English wear
Inherited from Middle English weren, werien, from Old English werian (“to clothe, cover over; put on, wear, use; stock (land)”), from Proto-West Germanic *waʀjan, from Proto-Germanic *wazjaną (“to clothe”), from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“to dress, put on (clothes)”).
Cognate to Sanskrit वस्ते (váste), Ancient Greek ἕννυμι (hénnumi, “put on”), Latin vestis (“garment”) (English vest), Albanian vesh (“dress up, wear”), Tocharian B wäs-, Old Armenian զգենում (zgenum), Welsh gwisgo, Hittite 𒉿𒀸- (waš-).
Originally a weak verb (i.e. with a past tense in -ed), it became irregular during the Middle English period by analogy with verbs like beren (whence bear) and teren (whence tear).
Meanings
(transitive) To have on: ▸ To carry or have equipped on or about one's body, as an item of clothing, equipment, decoration, perfume, etc.
He was wearing his lunch after tripping and falling into the buffet.
It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar. 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01:
Can you wear makeup and sunscreen at the same time?
Over all this, hee ware a certeyne Mantell of like ſtuffe, made in ſuche maner, that coming vnder his righte arme, and covering moſte ꝑte [parte] of that ſyde, yt tuched not the lefte ſyde, […] Albert Feuillerat, editor (1926), “The First Book”, in The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia: Being the Original Version […] (Cambridge English Classics; The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney; IV), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, →OCLC, pages 23–24
He's wearing some nice pants today.
Please wear your seatbelt.
‘It's rather like a beautiful Inverness cloak one has inherited. Much too good to hide away, so one wears it instead of an overcoat and pretends it's an amusing new fashion.’ 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
And Countrimen my louing follovvers, / Plead my ſucceſſiue Title vvith your ſvvords: / I am his firſt borne ſonne, that vvas the laſt / That vvare the Imperiall Diademe of Rome, / Then let my Fathers honours liue in me, / Nor vvrong mine age vvith this indignitie, […] c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], signature A3, recto:
She wore her medals with pride.
He ware upon his head a diademe of purple interpaled with white, like as Darius was accustomed. 1553, John Brende, Historie of Quintus Curcius:
(transitive) To have on: ▸ To have or carry on one's person habitually, consistently; or, to maintain in a particular fashion or manner.
It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
She wears her hair in braids.
He wears eyeglasses.
(transitive) To have on: ▸ To bear or display in one's aspect or appearance.
She wore a smile all day.
Then the bridegroom came slowly up the walk, wearing a very unbridegroomlike aspect, […] 1870, Marion Harland, Helen Gardner's Wedding-day, page 139:
He walked out of the courtroom wearing an air of satisfaction.
To erode: ▸ To eat away at, erode, diminish, or consume gradually; to cause a gradual deterioration in; to produce (some change) through attrition, exposure, or constant use.
Long illness had worn the bloom from her cheeks.
You're going to wear a hole in the bottom of those shoes.
And They made the Moon, with his face wrinkled with many mountains and worn with a thousand valleys, to regard with pale eyes the games of the small gods, and to watch throughout the resting time of Māna-Yood-Sushāī; to watch, to regard all things, and be silent. 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC:
Exile had worn the man to a shadow.
The water has slowly worn a channel into these rocks.
(copulative, intransitive) To erode: ▸ To undergo gradual deterioration; become impaired; be reduced or consumed gradually due to any continued process, activity, or use.
The family that had raised it wore out in the earlier part of this century 1880, [Benjamin Disraeli], Endymion […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC:
The tiles were wearing thin due to years of children's feet.
His stock of money[…] began to wear very low. 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:
To erode: ▸ To exhaust, fatigue, expend, or weary.
Our ſoules, whoſe faculties can comprehend
The wondrous Architecture of the world:
And meaſure euery wandring planets courſe,
Still climing after knowledge infinite,
And alwaies mouing as the reſtles ſpheares,
Wils vs to weare our ſelues & neuer reſt, […] c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii:
Toil and care soon wear the spirit.
His neverending criticism has finally worn my patience.
Our physical advantage allowed us to wear the other team out and win.
(colloquial, intransitive) To erode: ▸ (in the phrase "wearing on (someone)") To cause annoyance, irritation, fatigue, or weariness near the point of an exhaustion of patience.
Her high pitched voice is really wearing on me lately.
(colloquial, with "it") To endure: ▸ To overcome one's reluctance and endure a (previously specified) situation.
I know you don't like working with him, but you'll just have to wear it.
(intransitive) To endure: ▸ To last or remain durable under hard use or over time; to retain usefulness, value, or desirable qualities under any continued strain or long period of time; sometimes said of a person, regarding the quality of being easy or difficult to tolerate.
I have to say, our friendship has worn pretty well.
It's hard to get to know him, but he wears well.
This color wears so well. I must have washed this sweater a thousand times.
Don't worry, this fabric will wear. These pants will last you for years.
(intransitive, of time) To endure: ▸ To pass slowly, gradually or tediously.
That loss is common would not make
My own less bitter, rather more:
Too common! Never morning wore
To evening, but some heart did break. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto VI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
Thus wore out night. 1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
wear on, wear away.
As the years wore on, we seemed to have less and less in common.
Away, I say; time wears. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
To bring (a sailing vessel) onto the other tack by bringing the wind around the stern (as opposed to tacking when the wind is brought around the bow); to come round on another tack by turning away from the wind.
eu jantzi (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · el φορώ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · az taxmaq (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ne पहिरनु (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · af aanhê (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bo བཞེས (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pt gastar (to erode due to use) · fy skuorre (to exhaust physically) · lt nešioti (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nl uitputten (to exhaust physically) · bo མཆོད (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · vi mặc (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · egy W-T:z-U39-A24 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cmn 穿 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bg издъ́ржам (to last or remain durable under hard use or over time) · fa پوشیدن (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sv slita (to erode due to use) · uk зно́шуватися (to erode due to use) · fr porter (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · yue 戴 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · mba isol-ob (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · syl ꠙꠤꠘ꠆ꠗꠣ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bg влоша́вам се (to undergo gradual deterioration) · uk носи́ти (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es llevar (puesto) (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · hy հագնել (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · af dra (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · rm purter (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sd पाइणु (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi olla päällään (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pt desgastar (to exhaust physically) · oc portar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · la portō (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ne पैह्रनु (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · hak 戴 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · arz لبس (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · aii ܠܵܒ݂ܹܫ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi kulua (of time: to pass slowly, gradually or tediously) · haw komo (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ps اغوستل (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sh nòsiti (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sv trötta ut (to exhaust physically) · as পিন্ধ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ko 끼다 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · tr giymek (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · th ใส่ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · da have på (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pl mieć na sobie (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bn পরা (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · chr ᎤᏑᎳ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · gu પહેરવું (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ko 입다 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pl zużyć (to erode due to use) · ka ტარება (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sk nosiť (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi kestää (to overcome one's reluctance and endure) · bho पहिनल (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bg но́ся (to have or carry on one's person habitually, or in a particular manner) · ka ცმევა (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ltg nosuot (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ceb sul-ob (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · mn өмсөх (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · mi kokomo (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi kulua (to erode due to use) · be апрану́ць (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · de sich abnutzen (to erode due to use) · grc ἐνδύω (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pt vestir (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · km ស្លៀកពាក់ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es vestir (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · la vestiō (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pl nosić (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nl vermoeien (to exhaust physically) · az geymək (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nn ha på seg (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · alt кийер (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · uk надяга́ти (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · lo ໃສ່ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · is vera í (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · rup portu (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bg изно́свам се (to erode due to use) · chr ᎤᏄᏩ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · he לָבַשׁ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ro purta (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · my ဝတ် (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sw kuvaa (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · it indossare (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sq vesh (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · lv valkāt (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi sietää (to overcome one's reluctance and endure) · grc φορέω (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bg сме́ням галса (nautical: to bring to other tack by bringing the wind around the stern) · fr épuiser (to exhaust physically) · bg уморя́вам (to exhaust physically) · tr takmak (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bar ohåm (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · txb wäs- (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cmn 磨損 /磨损 (to erode due to use) · alt кийип јӱрер (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ru носи́ть (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ja 履く (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cy gwisgo (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · mk но́си (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · th สวมใส่ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · de tragen (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ca portar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nan-hbl 穿 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sv bära (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi käyttää (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi uuvuttaa (to exhaust physically) · fi kulua (to undergo gradual deterioration) · sco weir (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nb ha på seg (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · th ครอง (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ja 被る (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fr empanner (nautical: to bring to other tack by bringing the wind around the stern) · fi kuluttaa (to erode due to use) · ga iompair (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sc zúchere (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · got 𐍅𐌰𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · de anhaben (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · kix thīh (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · my ရုံ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pt trajar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · gl vestir (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · mi mau (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ne लगाउनु (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · hak 著 /着 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ko 해어지다 (to erode due to use) · io metar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cmn 磨 (to erode due to use) · fr fatiguer (to exhaust physically) · eo surporti (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · kea bisti (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bcl sulog (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nan-hbl 戴 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · hi पहनना (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · uk наді́ти (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cs nosit (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · frr dreeg (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ru надева́ть (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cmn 戴 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cs mít (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi kuluttaa (to exhaust physically) · ary لْبس (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es vestirse de (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · be апрана́ць (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · io tedar (to exhaust physically) · es peinarse (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ms pakai (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sd پائِڻُ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sh но̀сити (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ar لَبِسَ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cs opotřebit se (to erode due to use) · fur puartâ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es usar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ko 신다 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi pitää (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sl nositi (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ko 닳다 (to erode due to use) · wa mete (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · be панасі́ць (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ja 掛ける (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · km ពាក់ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · be надзе́ць (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ru изнашиваться (to erode due to use) · fi väsyttää (to exhaust physically) · bg но́ся (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ba кейеү (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ga caith (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · io fatigar (to exhaust physically) · bcl sulot (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es portar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · it portare (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es fatigar (to exhaust physically) · sv vända undan vinden (nautical: to bring to other tack by bringing the wind around the stern) · ur پہننا (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · txb pär- (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · om uffachuu (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · rm purtar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fo vera í (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ja 擦り切れる (to erode due to use) · et kandma (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nl dragen (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · be надзява́ць (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ar اِرْتَدَى (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · xfa ceso (ceso) (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ee nyi (to erode due to use) · chr ᏚᎵᏰᏑᎳ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · vi đi (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · cs mít na sobě (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi käyttää (to have or carry on one's person habitually, or in a particular manner) · nl aanhebben (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · lt vilkėti (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi jiipata (nautical: to bring to other tack by bringing the wind around the stern) · xto pär- (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · yi זיך אָנטאָן (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fr user (to erode due to use) · eo porti (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ru наде́ть (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · nb bære (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi rasittaa (to cause annoyance or irritation near the point of an exhaustion of patience) · rkt pindh (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · rm portar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · be насі́ць (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi kestää (to last or remain durable under hard use or over time) · th สวม (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · yue 著 /着 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pt usar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · wa poirter (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · hy կրել (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · es vestir de (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sa वस्ते (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · vi đeo (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · sv ha på sig (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pt desgastar (to erode due to use) · hu hord (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ja 着る (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · wyi tooroongjering-noorong (to undergo gradual deterioration) · io portar (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ru быть оде́тым в (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · fi olla yllään (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ang beran (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · izh pittää (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · bo གོན (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ko 쓰다 (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · mvi カヴ (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · ca vestir (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · pl zużywać (to erode due to use) · wa uzer (to erode due to use) · lv nēsāt (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · la gerō (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · kea vestí (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · vi mang (to have on (clothes or accessories)) · hy մաշվել (to erode due to use)
wear en · VERB · etymology 2
Etymology
From Middle English weren, werien, from Old English werian (“to guard, keep, defend; ward off, hinder, prevent, forbid; restrain; occupy, inhabit; dam up; discharge obligations on (land)”), from Proto-West Germanic *warjan, from Proto-Germanic *warjaną (“to defend, protect, ward off”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to close, cover, protect, save, defend”).
Cognate with Scots wer, weir (“to defend, protect”), Dutch weren (“to aver, ward off”), German wehren (“to fight”), Swedish värja (“to defend, ward off”), Icelandic verja (“to defend”).
Meanings
(UK, dialectal, transitive) To guard; watch; keep watch, especially from entry or invasion.
(UK, dialectal, transitive) To defend; protect.
(UK, dialectal, transitive) To ward off; prevent from approaching or entering; drive off; repel.
to wear the wolf from the sheep
(UK, dialectal, transitive) To conduct or guide with care or caution, as into a fold or place of safety.