Be Definition

Origin of Be

• From Middle English been (“to be”), from Old English bēon (“to be, become”), from Proto-Germanic *beuną (“to be, exist, come to be, become”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew- (“to grow, become, come into being, appear”). Cognate with West Frisian binne (“are”), Dutch ben (“am”), Low German bün ("am"), German bin (“am”), Old English būan (“to live, wone”). Irregular forms are inherited from the Old English verb wesan.

  From Wiktionary

• Middle English ben from Old English bēon bheuə- in Indo-European roots See am is etc. for links to other Indo-European roots

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

• Middle English bi-, be- from Old English be-, bi- ambhi in Indo-European roots

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

• ME bi-, be- < OE (akin to Goth bi-, Ger be-), at, near < Gmc base of by

  From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition