The word 'was' is a form of the verb 'to be,' which is used to indicate existence, identity, or a state of being in the past. It typically refers to something that happened or existed in the past but is no longer true or relevant at the present time.
The word 'was' comes from the Old English term 'wæs,' which is the past tense of 'beon,' meaning 'to be.' Its origins trace back to Proto-Germanic *was and are related to similar words in other Germanic languages.