was

was [was't, was'nt, were, wert] v

Germanic wes-; irregular past tense suppletive form of the “be” verb; see be, v.

1. [With the past participle to form the passive voice] create.
2. [With the past participle to form the habitual verb aspect] had been.
3. [Used to link a subject to a predicate noun so that the predicate mirrors the subject.]
4. [Linking auxiliary with ellipsis of the predicative adj.] had been.
5. Remain; sojourn; stay; tarry; visit; occupy a place.
6. Live; endure; exist.
7. Be situated; be located [with adverb].
8. [Linking verb with ellipsis of the predicate adjective] seem.
9. [Used with a present participle to form the conditional tense.]
10. Occur; happen; take place; come to pass.
11. Continue; persevere; persist.
12. Become; come to be; progress until.
13. [Used to express the subjunctive; used to form literary or archaic expressions] could be.
14. [Used to link a subject to a predicate adjective so that the predicate describes the subject] seem.
15. [Used with a present participle to form the progressive tense.]