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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

  



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Search Results for 'be'

be verb (been, being; present tense am, are, is; past tense was, were) intrans 1 to exist or live • I think, therefore I am. 2 to occur or take place • Lunch is in an hour. 3 to occupy a position in space • She is at home. 4 in past tense to go • He's never been to Italy. 5 to remain or continue without change • Let it be. 6 (as a copula) used to link a subject and what is said about it • She is a doctorHe is ill. 7 used with the infinitive form of a verb to express a possibility, command, intention, outcome, etc • if it were to rainWe are to come tomorrowIt was not to be. auxiliary verb 1 used with a past participle to form a passive construction • The film was shown last night. 2 used with a present participle to form the progressive tenses • He was running. be someone to suit them • That hat really isn't her. be that as it may although that may be true. the be-all and end-all the only important issue or overriding aim.
ETYMOLOGY: From Anglo-Saxon beon to live or exist, and Anglo-Saxon weran to be.

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