was
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Old English wæs, from Proto-Germanic *wēsōn, (cognate with German war) < Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“‘to reside’”). 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 Proto-Indo-European *bʰeu- (“‘to become’”). The words "is" and "are" are both derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- (“‘to be’”). Lastly, the past forms starting with "w-" such as "was" and "were" are from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“‘to reside’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
stressed
- (UK) enPR: wŏz, IPA: /wɒz/, SAMPA: /wQz/
- (US) enPR: wŭz, IPA: /wʌz/, SAMPA: /wVz/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -ɒz
unstressed
[edit] Verb
was
- First-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.
- Third-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.
- (British, dialectal) Third-person plural past tense indicative of be.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] See also
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Afrikaans
[edit] Noun
was (plural wase)
[edit] Verb
was
- Past tense of wees.
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Etymology 1
Cognate with English wash.
[edit] Noun
was (plural wassen, diminutive wasje, diminutive plural wasjes) m.
- laundry, clothes that need to be washed, or just have been washed.
[edit] Verb
was
- Present tense singular 1st person of wassen (meaning to wash).
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Etymology 2
Cognate with English wax.
[edit] Noun
was m.
[edit] Verb
was
- Present tense singular 1st person of wassen (another meaning is to grow).
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Etymology 3
Cognate with English was.
[edit] Verb
was
[edit] German
[edit] Etymology
From Old High German (h)waz, originally *(h)wat, compare Dutch wat.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Pronoun
was
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Polish
[edit] Pronoun
was
- Genitive, accusative and locative of wy (you, plural).
[edit] Scots
[edit] Noun
was (plural)
- Plural form of wa.
[edit] Sumo
[edit] Noun
was
