Old English wesan, w?s, w?ron 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.
例文
1. He was well acquainted with the literature of France，Germany and Holland.
彼はフランス、ドイツ、オランダの文学についてよく知っている。
2.It was just then that I chanced to look round.
ちょうどその時、私は下の周りを見回しました。
3.The military regime in power was unpopular and repressive.
政権下の軍政は人民を抑圧し、人心を得ない。
4.He was hand-picked for this job by the Admiral.
彼は海軍の将校が丹念に選んでこの仕事を担当している。
5.It was the uncommitted that Labour needed to reach.