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.
雙語例句
1. He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
他對於法國、德國和荷蘭的文學了如指掌。
來自柯林斯例句
2. It was just then that I chanced to look round.
就在那時，我恰好環顧了下四周。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The military regime in power was unpopular and repressive.
當權的軍政府壓製人民，不得人心。
來自柯林斯例句
4. He was hand-picked for this job by the Admiral.
他是由海軍上將精心挑選出來擔任這項工作的。
來自柯林斯例句
5. It was the uncommitted that Labour needed to reach.