A History of Short Words

From the New York Times Crossword Puzzle

WAS

Thu, 23 Mar '23
Portrayed
Tue, 21 Feb '23
Third word in many limericks
Mon, 30 Jan '23
"A good time ___ had by all"
Tue, 15 Nov '22
"Hmm, where ___ I?"
Thu, 27 Oct '22
"That __ Then, This Is Now" (1971 S. E. Hinton novel)
Sun, 25 Sep '22
Word between "what" and "that"
Sun, 14 Aug '22
Were, for one?
Sun, 7 Aug '22
"Time ___ …"
Sun, 10 Jul '22
Second word of many a limerick
Mon, 28 Feb '22
The Beatles' "Till There ___ You"
Sun, 20 Feb '22
"Time ___ ..."
Wed, 10 Nov '21
Is, in hindsight
Thu, 26 Aug '21
Functioned as
Tue, 1 Jun '21
Third word in many limericks
Thu, 27 May '21
"How ___ it?"
Sun, 21 Mar '21
Word in obituaries