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Etymology · Proto-Indo-European

*h₂wes-

4 English words descend from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wes-, most common first.

beUsed with past participles of verbs to form the passive voice.
wasUsed in phrases with existential there when the semantic subject is (usually third-person) plural.
weresimple subjunctive of be
vestaA short match, made of wood or wax.