werian

• werġan

• IPA^(key): /ˈwer.jɑn/, [ˈwerˠ.jɑn]

From Proto-West Germanic *waʀjan, from Proto-Germanic *wazjaną. Cognate with Old Saxon werian, Old High German werien, Old Norse verja.

werian

2. to use, put on, wear (clothes, ornaments, etc.)
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius' History Against the Pagans

     Be þām hringum man meahte witan hwæt Rōmāna duguþe ġefeallen wæs, for þon þe hit wæs þēaw mid him on þām dagum þæt nān ōðer ne mōste gyldenne hring werian būtan hē æðeles cynnes wǣre.

     You could tell by the rings how much of the Roman nobility had fallen, because the custom back then was that no one could wear a gold ring unless they were from a noble family.

• ġewerian

• Middle English: werien, weren
  • Scots: were, weir
  • English: wear

From Proto-West Germanic *warjan.

Cognate with Old Saxon werian, Middle Dutch weren (Dutch weren), Old High German werien (German wehren), Old Norse verja (Swedish värja).

werian

2. to hinder, restrain; to dam up
3. to defend, protect
   • "Widsith":

     Wulfhere sohte ic ond Wyrmhere; ful oft þær wig ne alæg,
     þonne Hræda here heardum sweordum,
     ymb Wistlawudu wergan sceoldon
     ealdne ēþelstōl Ætlan leodum.

     I sought Wulfhere and Wyrmhere; battle did not abate there
     when the Gothic army with hard swords
     had to defend in the Vistula woods
     their ancient homeland from Attila's folk.

• Middle English: werien
  • Scots: were, wer, weir
  • English: wear

From Proto-West Germanic *weʀēn, from Proto-West Germanic *weʀēn, from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“to remain, dwell”).

werian

2. to remain, continue, dwell

• warian

• Middle English: weren