were

动词 be:

1. have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
   同义词：be
2. be identical to; be someone or something
   同义词：be
3. occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere
   同义词：be
4. have an existence, be extant
   同义词：exist, be
5. happen, occur, take place
   同义词：be
6. be identical or equivalent to
   同义词：equal, be
7. form or compose
   同义词：constitute, represent, make up, comprise, be
8. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
   同义词：be, follow
9. represent, as of a character on stage
   同义词：embody, be, personify
10. spend or use time
    同义词：be
11. have life, be alive
    同义词：be, live
12. to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form
    同义词：be
13. be priced at
    同义词：cost, be

1. His words were followed by a pregnant pause.
   他说完话，接着是一段意味深长的停顿。
2. There were lots of buffaloes in the North America 100 years ago.
   100年前，北美有大量的野牛。
3. The children were whispering in the corner.
   孩子们正在角落里低声耳语。
4. She is, as it were, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.
   她可说是我见过的最漂亮的姑娘。
5. In the swamp we were beset by mosquitoes.
   我们在沼泽地受到蚊子的围攻。
6. I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you.
   如果我是你，我就不会担心。
7. He is, as it were, a walking dictionary.
   他可说是个活字典。
8. If I were in your shoes.
   如果我站在你的立场上。

were

v.（动词）
Second person singular and plural and first and third person plural past indicative of be
be的第二人称单数和复数以及第一和第三人称复数过去陈述语气词
Past subjunctive of be See Usage Note at if ,wish
be的过去虚拟语气词参见 if,wish

来源：
Middle English were, weren
中古英语 were, weren
from Old English wôre, wôren, wôron * see wes-
源自 古英语 wôre, wôren, wôron *参见 wes-