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.
双语例句
1. He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
他对于法国、德国和荷兰的文学了如指掌。
来自柯林斯例句
2. It was just then that I chanced to look round.
就在那时，我恰好环顾了下四周。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The military regime in power was unpopular and repressive.
当权的军政府压制人民，不得人心。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He was hand-picked for this job by the Admiral.
他是由海军上将精心挑选出来担任这项工作的。
来自柯林斯例句
5. It was the uncommitted that Labour needed to reach.
