browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
more about being
being |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Be \Be\, v. i. [imp. {Was}; p. p. {Been}; p. pr & vb n. {Being}.] [OE. been beon, AS be['o]n to be be['o]m I am akin to OHG. bim, pim, G. bin, I am Gael. & Ir bu was W. bod to be Lith. bu-ti, O. Slav. by-ti, to be L. fu-i I have been fu-turus about to be fo-re to be about to be and perh to fieri to become Gr ? to be born, to be Skr. bh? to be This verb is defective, and the parts lacking are supplied by verbs from other roots, is was which have no radical connection with be The various forms, am are is was were etc., are considered grammatically as parts of the verb ``to be'', which with its conjugational forms, is often called the substantive verb ?97. Cf {Future}, {Physic}.] 1. To exist actually, or in the world of fact to have ex?stence. To be contents his natural desire. --Pope. To be or not to be: that is the question. --Shak. 2. To exist in a certain manner or relation, -- whether as a reality or as a product of thought; to exist as the subject of a certain predicate, that is as having a certain attribute, or as belonging to a certain sort, or as identical with what is specified, -- a word or words for the predicate being annexed; as to be happy; to be here to be large or strong; to be an animal; to be a hero; to be a nonentity; three and two are five annihilation is the cessation of existence; that is the man. 3. To take place to happen; as the meeting was on Thursday. 4. To signify; to represent or symbolize; to answer to The field is the world. --Matt. xiii. 38. The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. --Rev. i. 20. Note: The verb to be (including the forms is was etc.) is used in forming the passive voice of other verbs; as John has been struck by James. It is also used with the past participle of many intransitive verbs to express a state of the subject. But have is now more commonly used as the auxiliary, though expressing a different sense as ``Ye have come too late -- but ye are come '' ``The minstrel boy to the war is gone.'' The present and imperfect tenses form with the infinitive, a particular future tense, which expresses necessity, duty, or purpose; as government is to be supported; we are to pay our just debts; the deed is to be signed to-morrow. Note: Have or had been followed by to implies movement. ``I have been to Paris.'' --Sydney Smith. ``Have you been to Franchard ?'' --R. L. Stevenson. Note: Been or ben, was anciently the plural of the indicative present. ``Ye ben light of the world.'' --Wyclif, Matt. v. 14. Afterwards be was used as in our Bible: ``They that be with us are more than they that be with them.'' --2 Kings vi 16. Ben was also the old infinitive: ``To ben of such power.'' --R. of Gloucester. Be is used as a form of the present subjunctive: ``But if it be a question of words and names.'' --Acts xviii. 15. But the indicative forms, is and are with if are more commonly used {Be it so}, a phrase of supposition, equivalent to suppose it to be so or of permission, signifying let it be so --Shak. {If so be}, in case. {To be from}, to have come from as from what place are you ? I am from Chicago. {To let be}, to omit, or leave untouched; to let alone. ``Let be therefore, my vengeance to dissuade.'' --Spenser. Syn: {To be}, {Exist}. Usage: The verb to be except in a few rare case, like that of Shakespeare's ``To be or not to be'', is used simply as a copula, to connect a subject with its predicate; as man is mortal; the soul is immortal. The verb to exist is never properly used as a mere copula, but points to things that stand forth, or have a substantive being as when the soul is freed from all corporeal alliance, then it truly exists. It is not therefore, properly synonymous with to be when used as a copula, though occasionally made so by some writers for the sake of variety; as in the phrase ``there exists [is] no reason for laying new taxes.'' We may indeed, say ``a friendship has long existed between them,'' instead of saying, ``there has long been a friendship between them;'' but in this case, exist is not a mere copula. It is used in its appropriate sense to mark the friendship as having been long in existence. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Being \Be"ing\, adv Since; inasmuch as [Obs. or Colloq.] And being you have Declined his means you have increased his malice. --Beau. & Fl From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Being \Be"ing\, n. 1. Existence, as opposed to nonexistence; state or sphere of existence. In Him we live, and move and have our being --Acts xvii. 28. 2. That which exists in any form whether it be material or spiritual, actual or ideal; living existence, as distinguished from a thing without life; as a human being spiritual beings. What a sweet being is an honest mind ! --Beau. & Fl A Being of infinite benevolence and power. --Wordsworth. 3. Lifetime; mortal existence. [Obs.] Claudius, thou Wast follower of his fortunes in his being --Webster (1654). 4. An abode; a cottage. [Prov. Eng.] --Wright. It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor. --Steele. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Being \Be"ing\, p. pr from {Be}. Existing. Note: Being was formerly used where we now use having ``Being to go to a ball in a few days.'' --Miss Edgeworth. Note: In modern usage, is are was or were being with a past participle following (as built, made etc.) indicates the process toward the completed result expressed by the participle. The form is or was building, in this passive signification, is idiomatic, and if free from ambiguity, is commonly preferable to the modern is or was being built. The last form of speech is however, sufficiently authorized by approved writers. The older expression was is or was a-building or in building. A man who is being strangled. --Lamb. While the article on Burns was being written. --Froude. Fresh experience is always being gained. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: being n 1: the state or fact of existing: "a point of view gradually coming into being"; "laws in existence for centuries" [syn: {beingness}, {existence}] [ant: {nonexistence}, {nonbeing}] 2: any living entity [syn: {life form}, {organism}, {living thing}]
more about being