What does 'wares' mean in this sentence? The model displayed her wares as she sashayed down the catwalk at the fashion show. Thank you.
It can mean one of two things, and is probably hinting at both via a double entendre. She's a model on the catwalk, so she has clothing on that is meant to be the feature attraction. In that sense, wares means goods/items/merchandise. The clothing. The double entendre comes into play when the goods/items/merchandise meaning of wares is used as a metaphor for her female attributes. Her bosom, shapely legs, etc.
Precisely. The more plain meaning of wares becomes evident when you see it as a root for other words that are all clearly speaking about different kinds of goods. Hardware, software, houswares department, etc.
ditto what wrey said... 'wares' on its own simply means 'goods for sale'... however, in that sentence, technically there is no double entendre, because the articles of clothing she's displaying are not hers to sell... they are the designer's or the store's... so her only wares are her looks...
