The phrase "were received" is commonly used in English to express the idea that something was accepted or acknowledged. When pronounced, the word "were" sounds like /wɜr/ and is spelled with two letters, "w" and "e". Likewise, the word "received" is pronounced like /rɪsivd/ and is spelled with eight letters, "r", "e", "c", "e", "i", "v", "e", and "d". Together, these two words form a grammatically-correct sentence that communicates the past tense action of something being accepted.
The phrase "were received" is a passive verb construction that refers to the action of something being accepted or taken in by a person, organization, or entity. It implies that an object or an entity has been given or delivered to someone or something and has been acknowledged or accepted.
In a general sense, "were received" means that something has been received, acquired, or taken possession of. This phrase often implies that there was a sender or a giver and a recipient involved in the process. It can refer to physical objects, such as packages, gifts, or documents, that have been delivered and accepted by the intended recipient.
Furthermore, "were received" can also be used to describe the reception of less tangible things, such as information, news, messages, or feedback. In these cases, it signifies that the information or communication has been received or understood by the intended person or organization.
The phrase "were received" is often used in formal contexts, such as formal letters, business transactions, or official documents, to state that something has been delivered to the intended recipient and is now in their possession or knowledge. It is a neutral term that does not imply any specific reaction or action taken upon receiving the object or information, but it simply signifies that the process of transfer or delivery is completed.
The word "were received" does not have an etymology by itself, as it is a combination of two separate words: "were" and "received". However, we can look at the individual etymologies of these words:
1. "Were":
- In Old English, the word was "wǣron", derived from the Proto-Germanic *wēzun.
- It is the past plural form of the verb "be" in English, indicating the past tense and plural pronoun.
- The verb "be" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰuH-, meaning "to be".
2. "Received":
- In Middle English, the word was "receyved", derived from the Old French "receivre" and the Latin "recipere".