An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wert
Wert (1.), m., equiv. to Werder, ‘river island.’
Wert (2.), m., ‘worth, value, price,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wërt (d), OHG. wërd, n., ‘price, costly articles, splendour’; comp. OSax. wërð, ‘hero, reward,’ Goth. waírþs, ‘worth, price'; an adj. used as a subst. Based on the adj. wert, ‘worth, dear,’ from MidHG. wërt (d), OHG. wërd, ‘costing a certain price, saleable at,’ then absolutely ‘of high worth, splendid, distinguished.’ Corresponding to Goth. waírþs, ‘worthy, fit,’ AS. weorþ, and E. worth. On account of its meaning its connection with werden is improbable. Lith. wertas and OSlov. vrĕdŭ, with which it is sometimes compared, are probably Teut. loanwords. It may be related to the Aryan root wor, ‘to regard, contemplate’ (see wahren), of which wert might be a particip. derivative in the sense of ‘esteemed'; see also Ware.