Etymology

From , from , (cognate with German ) < . The paradigm of "to be" has been since the time of Proto-Germanic a synthesis of three originally distinct verb stems. The infinitive form "to be" is from . The words "is" and "are" are both derived from . Lastly, the past forms starting with "w-" such as "was" and "were" are from .

Verb

was

1. First-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.
2. Third-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.
3. Third-person plural past tense indicative of be.

See also

• am
• are
• is
• art
• be
• being
• been

• beest
• wast
• were
• wert
• woz
• wuz