n.
Pronunciation: ' b ē
Function: verb
Inflected Form: past 1st & 3d singular was \ ' w ə z, ' wäz \ ; 2d singular were \ ' w ə r \ ; plural were ; past subjunctive were ; past part been \ ' bin, ' ben, chiefly Brit ' b ē n \ ; present part be · ing \ ' b ē (-i) ŋ \ ; present 1st singular am \ ə m, ' am \ ; 2d singular are \ ' är, ə r \ ; 3d singular is \ ' iz, ə z \ ; plural are ; present subjunctive be
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English b ē on; akin to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, futurus about to be, fieri to become, be done, Greek phynai to be born, be by nature, phyein to produce
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to equal in meaning : have the same connotation as : SYMBOLIZE <God is love> <January is the first month> <let x be 10> b : to have identity with <the first person I met was my brother> c : to constitute the same class as d : to have a specified qualification or characterization <the leaves are green> e : to belong to the class of <the fish is a trout> ― used regularly in senses 1a through 1e as the copula of simple predication
2 a : to have an objective existence : have reality or actuality : LIVE <I think, therefore I am > b : to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position <the book is on the table> c : to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted ― used only in infinitive form <let him be > d : to take place : OCCUR <the concert was last night> e : to come or go <has already been and gone> <has never been to the circus> f archaic : BELONG , BEFALL
verbal auxiliary
1 ― used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive-voice auxiliary <the money was found> <the house is being built>
2 ― used as the auxiliary of the present participle in progressive tenses expressing continuous action <he is reading> <I have been sleeping>
3 ― used with the past participle of some intransitive verbs as an auxiliary forming archaic perfect tenses <Christ is risen from the dead ― 1 Cor 15:20(DV)>
4 ― used with the infinitive with to to express futurity, arrangement in advance, or obligation <I am to interview him today> <she was to become famous>