The word "were with" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /wɜr wɪθ/. The first sound, /w/, is a voiced labio-velar approximant. The second sound, /ɜr/, is a rhotic vowel that is pronounced by curling the tongue backwards. The next sound, /w/, is another voiced labio-velar approximant. Finally, the last sound, /ɪθ/, is an unvoiced dental fricative made with the tongue and teeth. When uttered together, "were with" is a phrase that means somebody was present with someone or something.
"were with" is a phrase that combines the past tense of the verb "to be" with the preposition "with." The verb "to be" is used here in the past tense, indicating a state of existence or presence, whereas the preposition "with" denotes association, presence, or accompaniment. When these words are combined, "were with" refers to the act of being in the company or presence of someone or something in the past.
For example, if someone says "we were with our friends at the park yesterday," it means that the person and their friends were present or accompanied each other at the park on the previous day. This phrase highlights a specific instance of companionship or togetherness that occurred in the past.
"were with" can also describe a belief or affiliation held by individuals in the past. For instance, if someone says "they were with the opposition party before," it implies that the individuals belonged to or supported the opposition party in the past, indicating a change in their current belief or affiliation.
In summary, "were with" refers to the act of being in the company or presence of someone or something in the past, or the association with a particular belief or affiliation that existed previously.
The phrase were with does not have a specific etymology as it consists of two separate words, were and with. Each word has its own origins.
Were is the second person singular and plural past tense of the verb to be in Old English. It has Germanic roots and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic language.
On the other hand, with is a preposition that comes from the Old English word mid. It also has Germanic origins and ultimately connects to the Proto-Indo-European root *me- meaning together or with.
Therefore, the phrase were with is formed by combining the Old English verb were and the preposition with.