Definitions For Were

Etymology 1

From Middle English were, weren, from {{inh, en, ang, wǣre}}, wǣron, wǣren, from {{der, en, gem-pro, wēz-}}, from {{der, en, ine-pro, *h₂wes-}}. More at was.

Pronunciation

stressed (UK) {{enPR, wûr}}, /wɜː(ɹ)/ (UK, regional) {{enPR, wâr}}, /wɛə(ɹ)/ (US) {{enPR, wûr}}, /wɝ/ {{rhymes, en, ɜː(ɹ)}} {{homophones, en, whirr}} {{qualifier, in accents with the wine-whine merger}} unstressed (UK) {{enPR, wər}}, /wə(ɹ)/ (US) {{enPR, wər}}, /wɚ/ (audio stream unavailable)

Verb

{{inflection of, en, be, , 2, s, sim, past, ind}} : {{uxi, en, John, you were the only person to see him.}} {{inflection of, en, be, , 1//2//3, p, sim, past, ind}} : {{uxi, en, We were about to leave.}} : {{uxi, en, Mary and John, you were right.}} : {{uxi, en, They were a fine group.}} : {{uxi, en, They were to be the best of friends from that day on.}} {{inflection of, en, be, , 1//2//3, s//p, sim, present//past, sub}} : I wish that it were Sunday. : I wish that I were with you. :* with “if” omitted, put first in an “if” clause: :*: Were it simply that she wore a hat, I would not be upset at all. (= If it were simply...) :*: Were father a king, we would have war. (= If father were a king,...) (Northern England) was.

Synonyms

(second-person singular past indicative, archaic) wast (used with “thou”) (second-person singular imperfect subjunctive, archaic) wert (used with “thou”)

Etymology 2

From Middle English were, wer, from {{inh, en, ang, wer}}, from {{inh, en, gem-pro, weraz}}, from {{inh, en, ine-pro, *wiHrós, , man}}. Cognate with {{cog, la, vir, , man}}. The original meaning of “man” is now preserved only in compounds like were wolf, , man-wolf and were gild, , man gold (payment).

Noun

WERE (plural WEREs) (obsolete) A man, a husband (obsolete) A fine for slaying a man; weregild. (fandom) {{n-g, The collective name for any kind of person that changes into another form under certain conditions, including the werewolf.}}