Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
BEING
I. noun
Date: 14th century
1. the quality or state of having existence, b. something conceivable as existing, something that actually exists, the totality of existing things, conscious existence ; life , the qualities that constitute an existent thing ; essence , a living thing,
II. adjective
Etymology: present participle of be
Date: 14th century
present ,
III. conjunction
Date: 1528
since , because