verb
1st person singular present indicative of be.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English am, eam, eom; cognate with Gothic im, Old Norse, Armenian em, Old Irish am, Greek eimí, Hittite, early Lithuanian esmi, OCS yesmĭ, Albanian jam, Sanskrit asmi < Indo-European *Hes- be + *-m 1st person singular + *-i now; cf. is
before 900; Middle English; Old English am, eam, eom; cognate with Gothic im, Old Norse, Armenian em, Old Irish am, Greek eimí, Hittite, early Lithuanian esmi, OCS yesmĭ, Albanian jam, Sanskrit asmi < Indo-European *Hes- be + *-m 1st person singular + *-i now; cf. is
Dictionary.com Unabridged
AM
1.
Electronics. amplitude modulation: a method of impressing a signal on a radio carrier wave by varying its amplitude.
2.
Radio. a system of broadcasting by means of amplitude modulation.
3.
of, pertaining to, or utilizing such a system. Compare FM.
4.
Asian male.
Origin:
1935–40
1935–40
00:10
Am
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
Am
Symbol, Chemistry.
A/m
ampere per meter.
A.M.
1.
a.m.
2.
Master of Arts.
Origin:
< Latin Artium Magister
< Latin Artium Magister
a.m.
1.
before noon.
2.
the period from midnight to noon, especially the period of daylight prior to noon: Shall we meet Saturday a.m.?
3.
a morning newspaper, sometimes issued shortly before midnight.
Compare p.m.
Origin:
< Latin ante merīdiem
< Latin ante merīdiem
Usage note
The abbreviation a.m. for Latin ante meridiem, meaning “before noon,” refers to the period from midnight until noon. One minute before noon is 11:59 a.m. One minute after noon is 12:01 p.m. Many people distinguish between noon and midnight by saying 12 noon and 12 midnight. Expressions combining a.m. with morning (6 a.m. in the morning) and p.m. with afternoon, evening, or night (9 p.m. at night) are redundant and occur most often in casual speech and writing. Both a.m. and p.m. sometimes appear in capital letters, especially in printed matter.
The abbreviation a.m. for Latin ante meridiem, meaning “before noon,” refers to the period from midnight until noon. One minute before noon is 11:59 a.m. One minute after noon is 12:01 p.m. Many people distinguish between noon and midnight by saying 12 noon and 12 midnight. Expressions combining a.m. with morning (6 a.m. in the morning) and p.m. with afternoon, evening, or night (9 p.m. at night) are redundant and occur most often in casual speech and writing. Both a.m. and p.m. sometimes appear in capital letters, especially in printed matter.
be
[bee; unstressed bee, bi] verb and auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person am, 2nd are or ( Archaic ) art, 3rd is, present plural are; past singular 1st person was, 2nd were or ( Archaic ) wast or wert, 3rd was, past plural were; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive singular 1st person were, 2nd were or ( Archaic ) wert, 3rd were; past subjunctive plural were; past participle been; present participle be·ing. verb (used without object)
1.
to exist or live: Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.
2.
to take place; happen; occur: The wedding was last week.
3.
to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table.
4.
to continue or remain as before: Let things be.
5.
to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you.
6.
(used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): Martha is tall. John is president. This is she.
7.
(used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious.
auxiliary verb
8.
(used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense): I am waiting.
9.
(used with the present participle or infinitive of the principal verb to indicate future action): She is visiting there next week. He is to see me today.
10.
(used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed. It must be done.
11.
(used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense): He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English been, Old English bēon (bēo- (akin to Old Frisian, Old High German bim, German bin, Old Saxon bium, biom (I) am, Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon būan, Old Norse būa reside, Latin fuī (I) have been, Greek phy- grow, become, Old Irish boí (he) was, Sanskrit bhávati (he) becomes, is, Lithuanian búti to be, OCS byti, Persian būd was)) + -n infinitive suffix. See am, is, are1, was, were
before 900; Middle English been, Old English bēon (bēo- (akin to Old Frisian, Old High German bim, German bin, Old Saxon bium, biom (I) am, Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon būan, Old Norse būa reside, Latin fuī (I) have been, Greek phy- grow, become, Old Irish boí (he) was, Sanskrit bhávati (he) becomes, is, Lithuanian búti to be, OCS byti, Persian būd was)) + -n infinitive suffix. See am, is, are1, was, were
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To Am
Collins
World English Dictionary
| am1 | |
| —vb | |
| ( | |
| [Old English eam; related to Old Norse em, Gothic im, Old High German bim, Latin sum, Greek eimi, Sanskrit asmi] | |
| am3 | |
| —the internet domain name for | |
| Armenia | |
| Am | |
| —the chemical symbol for | |
| americium | |
| AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| 1. | associate member |
| 2. | Assembly Member (of the National Assembly of Wales) |
| 3. | Albert Medal |
| 4. | (US) Master of Arts |
| 5. | Also: am amplitude modulation |
| 6. | See a.m. |
| 7. | Member of the Order of Australia |
| 8. | Armenia (international car registration) |
| Am. | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| America(n) | |
| A/M | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| Air Marshal | |
| a.m., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| Compare p.m. ante meridiem | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| A.M., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| am, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| AM, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| a.m., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| Compare p.m. ante meridiem | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| A.M., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| am, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| AM, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| a.m., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| Compare p.m. ante meridiem | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| A.M., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| am, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| AM, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| a.m., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| Compare p.m. ante meridiem | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| A.M., A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| am, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
| AM, A.M., am or AM | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| [Latin: before noon] | |
be1 (biː, (unstressed) bɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , pres. sing. 1st pers 2nd pers 3rd pers pres. pl past sing 1st pers 2nd pers 3rd pers past pl pres. part past part am, are, is, are, was, were, was, were, being, been | |
| 1. | to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live: I think, therefore I am; not all that is can be understood |
| 2. | (used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only) to pay a visit; go: have you been to Spain? |
| 3. | to take place; occur: my birthday was last Thursday |
| 4. | (copula) used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity (John is a man; John is a musician) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute (honey is sweet; Susan is angry). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time (Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday) |
| 5. | (takes a present participle) forms the progressive present tense: the man is running |
| 6. | (takes a past participle) forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive ones: a good film is being shown on television tonight; I am done |
| 7. | (takes an infinitive) expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation: the president is to arrive at 9.30; you are not to leave before I say so |
| 8. | (takes a past participle) forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such as go or come: the last train is gone |
| 9. | be that as it may the facts concerning (something) are of no importance |
| [Old English bēon; related to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, Greek phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit bhavati he is] | |
| be2 | |
| —the internet domain name for | |
| Belgium | |
| Be | |
| —the chemical symbol for | |
| beryllium | |
| Bé | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| Baumé | |
| BE | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| 1. | bill of exchange |
| 2. | (in the US) Board of Education |
| 3. | Bachelor of Education |
| 4. | Bachelor of Engineering |
| B/E, BE or b.e. | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| bill of exchange | |
| BE, BE or b.e. | |
| —abbreviation for | |
| b.e., BE or b.e. | |
| —abbreviation for | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
be
O.E. beon, beom, bion "be, exist, come to be, become," from P.Gmc. *beo-, *beu-. This "b-root" is from PIE base *bheu-, *bhu- "grow, come into being, become," and in addition to the words in English it yielded German present first and second person sing. (bin, bist, from O.H.G. bim "I am," bist "thou
art"), L. perf. tenses of esse (fui "I was," etc.), O.C.S. byti "be," Gk. phu- "become," O.Ir. bi'u "I am," Lith. bu'ti "to be," Rus. byt' "to be," etc. It also is behind Skt. bhavah "becoming," bhavati "becomes, happens," bhumih "earth, world."
The modern verb in its entirety represents the merger of two once-distinct verbs, the "b-root" represented by be and the am/was verb, which was itself a conglomerate. Roger Lass ("Old English") describes the verb as "a collection of semantically related paradigm fragments," while Weekley calls it "an accidental conglomeration from the different Old English dial[ect]s." It is the most irregular verb in Mod.E. and the most common. Collective in all Germanic languages, it has eight different forms in Modern English:
BE (infinitive, subjunctive, imperative)
AM (present 1st person singular)
ARE (present 2nd person singular and all plural)
IS (present 3rd person singular)
WAS (past 1st and 3rd persons singular)
WERE (past 2nd person singular, all plural; subjunctive)
BEING (progressive & present participle; gerund)
BEEN (perfect participle).
The paradigm in O.E. was:
The "b-root" had no past tense in O.E., but often served as future tense of am/was. In 13c. it took the place of the infinitive, participle and imperative forms of am/was. Later its plural forms (we beth, ye ben, they be) became standard in M.E. and it made inroads into the singular (I be, thou beest, he beth), but forms of are claimed this turf in the 1500s and replaced be in the plural. For the origin and evolution of the am/was branches of this tangle, see am and was.
The modern verb in its entirety represents the merger of two once-distinct verbs, the "b-root" represented by be and the am/was verb, which was itself a conglomerate. Roger Lass ("Old English") describes the verb as "a collection of semantically related paradigm fragments," while Weekley calls it "an accidental conglomeration from the different Old English dial[ect]s." It is the most irregular verb in Mod.E. and the most common. Collective in all Germanic languages, it has eight different forms in Modern English:
BE (infinitive, subjunctive, imperative)
AM (present 1st person singular)
ARE (present 2nd person singular and all plural)
IS (present 3rd person singular)
WAS (past 1st and 3rd persons singular)
WERE (past 2nd person singular, all plural; subjunctive)
BEING (progressive & present participle; gerund)
BEEN (perfect participle).
The paradigm in O.E. was:
| SING. | PL. | |
| 1st pres. | ic eom ic beo | we sind(on) we beoð |
| 2nd pres. | þu eart þu bist | ge sind(on) ge beoð |
| 3rd pres. | he is he bið | hie sind(on) hie beoð |
| 1st pret. | ic wæs | we wæron |
| 2nd pret. | þu wære | ge waeron |
| 3rd pret. | heo wæs | hie wæron |
| 1st pret. subj. | ic wære | we wæren |
| 2nd pret. subj. | þu wære | ge wæren |
| 3rd pret. subj. | Egcferð wære | hie wæren |
The "b-root" had no past tense in O.E., but often served as future tense of am/was. In 13c. it took the place of the infinitive, participle and imperative forms of am/was. Later its plural forms (we beth, ye ben, they be) became standard in M.E. and it made inroads into the singular (I be, thou beest, he beth), but forms of are claimed this turf in the 1500s and replaced be in the plural. For the origin and evolution of the am/was branches of this tangle, see am and was.
"That but this blow Might be the be all, and the end all." ["Macbeth" I.vii.5]
A.M.
1762, abbreviation of L. ante meridiem "before noon."
am
O.E. eom "to remain," (Mercian eam, Northumbrian am), from PIE *esmi- (cf. O.N. emi, Goth. im, Hittite esmi, O.C.S. jesmi, Lith. esmi), from base *es-, *s-, the S-ROOT, which also yielded Gk. esti-, L. est, Skt. as-, and Ger. ist. In O.E. it existed only in present tense, all other forms being expressed
in the W-BASE (see were, was). This cooperative verb is sometimes referred to by linguists as *es-*wes-. Until the distinction broke down 13c., *es-*wes- tended to express "existence," with beon meaning something closer to "come to be" (see be). O.E. am had two plural forms: 1. sind/sindon, sie and 2. earon/aron The s- form (also used in the subjunctive) fell from use in the early 13c. (though it continues in Ger. sind, the 3rd person plural of "to be") and was replaced by forms of be, but aron (aren, arn, are, from P.Gmc. *ar-, probably a variant of PIE base *es-) continued, and as am and be merged it encroached on some uses that previously had belonged to be. By the early 1500s it had established its place in standard Eng. Art became archaic in the 1800s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
Am
The symbol for the element americium.
Be
The symbol for the element beryllium.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| Am
The symbol for americium. |
| AM
Abbreviation of amplitude modulation |
| Be
The symbol for beryllium. |
| beryllium (bə-rĭl'ē-əm) Pronunciation Key
Symbol Be A hard, lightweight, steel-gray metallic element of the alkaline-earth group, found in various minerals, especially beryl. It has a high melting point and is corrosion-resistant. Beryllium is used to make sturdy, lightweight alloys and aerospace structural materials. It is also used as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2. See Periodic Table. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
AM definition
1.
2.
AM's successor was Eurisko.
(http://homepages.enterprise.net/hibou/aicourse/lenat.txt).
(1999-04-19)
am definition
networkingThe country code for Armenia.
Used for the vanity domain "i.am".
(1999-01-27)
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
am
|
Am
|
AM
|
Am.
|
| a.m. Latin ante meridiem (before noon) |
A.M.
|
| be Belorusian |
Be
|
BE
|
| Bé Baumé scale |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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