Wer

Pronunciation varies by accent · noun

Meaning

(puristic, otherwise archaic) A man; a male; a husband..

Definitions by Sense

1. (puristic, otherwise archaic) A man; a male; a husband.
2. (obsolete or historical) A fine for slaying a man; wergeld.
3. Eye dialect spelling of were.

Example Sentences

[…]the character of a horseman was inseparable connected with the knight—the military attendant of the baron, who was himself nothing more than the Wer, or Man, of the king—even the armiger, […]

Further is this wort of two kinds, wer and wife, or male and female. The wer, or male, hath white blossoms, and the wife, or female, hath red or brown; either is beneficial and wonderlike, and they have on them wondrous virtue.

Under the system of money compensation, the kindred of the slain must demand payment of the wer, or prosecute the feud. They had the right to the wer when paid, and must by oath release the slayer and his kindred from the feud.

It was so in the England of Alfred's day; the maternal kinsfolk paid a third of the wer. The Leges Henrici, which about such a matter will not be inventing new rules, tell us that the paternal kinsfolk pay and receive two-thirds, the maternal kinsfolk one-third of the wer; and this is borne out by other evidence.

Synonyms for wer

Antonyms for wer

Related Words

Word Forms

• wers
• were

Usage Notes

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