Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps (i) related to wore v.¹ (compare sense 3 at that entry, accepting the sense ‘to become disturbed, turbid, or dirty’; compare wory adj. 1a), although this would result in imperfect rhyme (of long close with long open ō ); or perhaps (ii) < the same Germanic base as Old High German wuorī , wuora , wuur weir, dam (Middle High German wuore , wüere , wuor , wüer , German regional (Switzerland) Wuhr ; apparently an ablaut variant (lengthened o -grade) of the Germanic base of weir n.), although this would also result in imperfect rhyme (of long close with long open ō ); or perhaps (iii) < the same Germanic base as Old English wær , Old Icelandic ver , both (poetic) in sense ‘sea’ (further etymology uncertain and disputed), although this poses phonological problems; or perhaps (iv) a southern variant of ware n.¹ (compare ore n.⁵), although this poses semantic problems.For a recent argument in support of derivation (i), interpreting the word in the sense ‘a state of agitation or disturbance’, see B. Millett & R. Dance Ancrene Wisse (2006) II. 259. With reference to derivations (i) and (ii), it should be noted that the rhyming of long close with long open mid vowels is considered by some to have been admissible in Middle English verse. Old English wār ware n.¹ (see derivation (iv)) provides the best phonological (but not semantic) match; it is securely attested only in the sense ‘seaweed’. The sense ‘coarse sand, gravel’ is doubtfully supported by Old English gloss collections.

Etymology: Apparently < the same Germanic base as weary adj. (see discussion at that entry).The variant readings in quots. c1225 and c1230 at sense 2 show scribal substitution of forms of war v.¹, perhaps suggesting that the word was rare and no longer generally transparent already in the 13th cent.

Etymology: Apparently < wore, past tense and past participle form of wear v.²