Is (?), v. i. [AS. is; akin to G. & Goth. ist, L. est, Gr. , Skr. asti. . Cf. Am, Entity, Essence, Absent.]
The third person singular of the substantive verb be, in the indicative mood, present tense; as, he is; he is a man. See Be.
In some varieties of the Northern dialect of Old English, is was used for all persons of the singular.
For thy is I come, and eke Alain.
Chaucer.
Aye is thou merry.
Chaucer.
The idiom of using the present for future events sure to happen is a relic of Old English in which the present and future had the same form; as, this year Christmas is on Friday.
To-morrow is the new moon.
1 Sam. xx. 5.
© Webster 1913.