Etymology: Middle English were (2d singular past indicative and 1st, 2d, & 3d singular past subjunctive), weren (past plural indicative & subjunctive), from Old English wǣre (2d singular past indicative and 1st, 2d, & 3d singular past subjunctive of wesan to be), wǣron (past plural indicative of wesan ), wǣren (past plural subjunctive of wesan ); akin to Old Frisian wēre were (2d singular past indicative of wesa to be), Old High German wāri (2d singular past indicative of wesan to be) — more at was
past second singular & plural past subjunctive, dialect past first & third singular of be