Are

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. The second-person singular and plural present tense form of the verb "to be"
2. A verb used to denote the state of existence or identity among entities or individuals
3. A linking verb that connects the subject of a sentence to a subject complement expressing a characteristic or condition

Etymology: The form "are" traces its origins back to Old English, where it appeared as "aron" or "earun," the plural form of the verb "to be." This verb is one of the oldest and most irregular in the English language, reflecting deep roots in the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family. Unlike most verbs, its various forms do not stem from a single root but rather from multiple sources that merged over time. Old English inherited different stems from Proto-Germanic, which itself developed from Proto-Indo-European roots. The plural forms of "to be," including "are," derive from a Proto-Germanic stem *ar-, which is related to existence or presence. This contrasts with the singular forms like "am" and "is," which come from different roots. This patchwork origin explains the irregularities seen in modern English conjugations. By Middle English, the Old English plural forms had contracted and simplified into the modern "are," serving as the present tense plural and second-person singular form of the verb. It replaced earlier variations like "been" or "beon" in some dialects. The pronunciation settled into the contemporary /əɹ/ sound, reflecting typical phonetic changes such as the reduction of unstressed vowels and consonant simplification. "Are" retains its role as a fundamental linking verb, connecting subjects to predicates and indicating existence or state of being. Its irregular form is a living reminder of English's layered linguistic history, shaped by the fusion of multiple ancestral roots and the evolution of everyday speech over centuries.

Synonyms: exist, be