[множественное число прошедшего времени] от глагола be
Etymology: Middle English were (suppletive singular past subjunctive and 2d singular past indicative of been to be), weren (suppletive past plural of been), from Old English wǣre (singular past subjunctive and 2d singular past indicative of wesan to be), wǣron (past plural indicative of wesan), wǣren (past plural subjunctive of wesan) — more at was past second singular, past plural or past subjunctive of be