Sentence:  Lucius Beebe 's book , `` Mr. Pullman 's Elegant Palace Car '' , fills us with nostalgia , recalling days when private cars and Pullmans <WSD>were</WSD> extra wonderful , with fine woodwork , craftsmanship in construction , deep carpets and durable upholstery . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)