Word Origin & History
bareO.E. bær "naked, uncovered," from P.Gmc. *bazaz (cf. Ger. bar, O.N. berr, Du. baar), from PIE *bhosos (cf. Armenian bok "naked;" O.C.S. bosu, Lith. basas "barefoot"). Meaning "sheer, absolute" (c.1200) is from the notion of "complete in itself." The verb is O.E. barian.