was

A verb-form used to supply the past tense of the verb be: as, I was, thou wast or wert, he was; we, you, or they were. In the subjunctive, I were, thou wert, he were; we, you, they were, etc.

The forms wast and wert in the second person singular of the indicative (cf. Icel. vert), and wert in the second person singular of the subjunctive, are modern, being conformed to the model of art. The older form of the second person singular in both moods is were. The ungrammatical combination you was became common in the eighteenth century, but is now condemned.

The first and third persons singular of the verb be, in the indicative mood, preterit (imperfect) tense.

First-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.

Third-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.

Second-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.