was
pronunciation
How to pronounce was in British English:
UK [ /wəz; wɒz/]
How to pronounce was in American English:
US [ /wəz,wʌz/]
Word Origin
- was (v.)
- Old English wesan, wæs, wæron 1st and 3rd person singular of wesan "to remain," from Proto-Germanic *was- (cognates: Old Saxon wesan, Old Norse vesa, Old Frisian wesa, Middle Dutch wesen, Dutch wezen, Old High German wesen "being, existence," Gothic wisan "to be"), from PIE root *wes- (3) "remain, abide, live, dwell" (cognates Sanskrit vasati "he dwells, stays;" compare vestal). Wesan was a distinct verb in Old English, but it came to supply the past tense of am. This probably began to develop in Proto-Germanic, because it is also the case in Gothic and Old Norse. See be.
Example
- 1. But that was before the financial crisis .
- 2. She was rushed to hospital .
- 3. He was a cultural vampire .
- 4. He was arrested on thursday .
- 5. His friend was still alive .