be

be
verb (past first & third singular was; second singular were; plural were; past subjunctive were; past part been; present part being; present first singular am; second singular are; third singular is; plural are; present subjunctive be) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bēon; 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
>
<
once upon a time there was a knight
>
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 Corinthians 15:20(Douay Version)
>
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
>

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Synonyms:
(whether in fact or in imagination), , ,


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