Were (root: be)

• POS: Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Were, v. t. & i. 

 To wear. See 3d Wear.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Were, n. 

 A weir. See Weir.  Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney.  [1913 Webster]

Were, v. t. [AS. werian.].

 To guard; to protect.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Were,  [AS. w (thou) wast, w (we, you, they) were, w imp. subj. See Was.].

 The imperfect indicative plural, and imperfect subjunctive singular and plural, of the verb be. See Be.  [1913 Webster]

Were, n. [AS. wer; akin to OS. & OHG. wer, Goth. waír, L. vir, Skr. vīra. Cf. Weregild, and Werewolf.].

•  A man.  [1913 Webster]
•  A fine for slaying a man; the money value set upon a man's life; weregild.  [1913 Webster]

  "Every man was valued at a certain sum, which was called his were."  [1913 Webster]