QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of sear
1before 900; (adj.) Middle English sere,Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; (v.) Middle English seren,Old English sēarian, derivative of sēar
synonym study for sear
1. See burn1.
OTHER WORDS FROM sear
un·seared, adjectiveOther definitions for sear (2 of 2)
sear2
[ seer ]
/ sɪər /
noun
a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full cock or half cock in the firing mechanism of small arms.
Origin of sear
21550–60; <Middle French serre a grip, derivative of serrer to lock up, close <Vulgar Latin *serrāre, for Late Latin serāre to bar (a door), derivative of Latin sera door-bar; Vulgar Latin -rr- unexplained
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use sear in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for sear (1 of 2)
sear1
/ (sɪə) /
verb (tr)
to scorch or burn the surface of
to brand with a hot iron
to cause to wither or dry up
rare to make callous or unfeeling
noun
a mark caused by searing
adjective
poetic dried up
Word Origin for sear
Old English sēarian to become withered, from sēar withered; related to Old High German sōrēn, Greek hauos dry, Sanskrit sōsa drought
British Dictionary definitions for sear (2 of 2)
sear2
/ (sɪə) /
noun
the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked
Word Origin for sear
C16: probably from Old French serre a clasp, from serrer to hold firmly, from Late Latin sērāre to bolt, from Latin sera a bar
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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