be
First and third person singular past indicative was (
verb
1.
2.
3. To take place; occur: The test was yesterday.
4. To go or come: Have you ever been to Italy? Have you been home recently?
5. Usage Problem. Used as a copula in such senses as: a. To equal in identity: "To be a Christian was to be a Roman" (James Bryce). b. To have a specified significance: A is excellent, C is passing. Let n be the unknown quantity. c. To belong to a specified class or group: The human being is a primate. d. To have or show a specified quality or characteristic: She is lovely. All men are mortal. e. To seem to consist or be made of: The yard is all snow. He is all bluff and no bite.
6. To belong; befall: Peace be unto you. Woe is me.
3.
4.
[Middle English ben, from Old English bēon See
Synonyms:
Usage Note: