Definitions For Were

Etymology 1

From Middle English were, weren, from , wǣron, wǣren, from , from . More at was.

Pronunciation

stressed (UK) , /wɜː(ɹ)/ (UK, regional) , /wɛə(ɹ)/ (US) , /wɝ/ unstressed (UK) , /wə(ɹ)/ (US) , /wɚ/ (audio stream unavailable)

Verb

: : : : : : 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”)

See also

am are is art be being been beest was wast wert

Etymology 2

From Middle English were, wer, from , from , from . Cognate with . 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)

Related terms

Anagrams

Ewer, ewer, ewre, rewe, weer