ħares

Etymology 1
From, rare variant of , or an independent alteration of the latter. The semantic development under influence of, from , perhaps additionally also of , from.

Verb

 * 1) to look; to glance
 * 2) to look at; to observe
 * 3) to guard; to watch over; to protect
 * 4) to observe; to keep (e.g. a commandment)
 * 1) to observe; to keep (e.g. a commandment)

Etymology 2
In the present form it should be from, active participle of above; quite plausibly through the idea that ghosts watch over, or haunt, certain localities. The unusual plural (from underlying  as in ) might then be explained as continuing. However, it is worth noting that Castagna in his history of Malta says that the peasants, even in his day, believed the to be a black snake that controlled the destiny of a house’s inhabitants and therefore must never be killed. This leaves the possibility that the eventual etymon may in fact be.

Noun

 * 1) ghost, spectre