were

n. A weir. See Weir. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ AS. werian. ] To guard; to protect. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To wear. See 3d Wear. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. wer; akin to OS. & OHG. wer, Goth. waír, L. vir, Skr. vīra. Cf. Weregild, and Werewolf. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A man. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fine for slaying a man; the money value set upon a man's life; weregild. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man was valued at a certain sum, which was called his were. Bosworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. wergild; wer a man, value set on a man's life + gild payment of money; akin to G. wehrgeld. √285. See Were a man, and Geld, n. ] (O. Eng. Law) The price of a man's head; a compensation paid of a man killed, partly to the king for the loss of a subject, partly to the lord of a vassal, and partly to the next of kin. It was paid by the murderer. [ Written also weregeld, weregelt, etc. ] Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]