were

past tense second-person singular, past tense plural, and past subjunctive of be

Word History

Etymology

Middle English were (suppletive singular past subjunctive & 2nd singular past indicative of been to be), weren (suppletive past plural of been), from Old English wǣre (singular past subjunctive & 2nd singular past indicative of wesan to be), wǣron (past plural indicative of wesan), wǣren (past plural subjunctive of wesan) — more at was

Cite this Entry

Style

“Were.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/were. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

were

past 2nd singular, past plural, or past subjunctive of be

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