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3. time was

time was

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time was (when)

there was a time when; at a time in the past. Time was when old people were taken care of at home. Time was when people didn't travel around so much.

See also: time

time was

Formerly, in the past, as in Time was, the city streets were perfectly safe at night. [Mid-1500s]

See also: time

time was

There was once a time: "Time was when [urban gangs] were part of a ... subculture that inner-city adolescence outgrew" (George F. Will).

See also: time