Sentence:  The terms are fairly safe to use on this side of the ocean , but before you start spouting them to your date , it might be best to find out if he <WSD>was</WSD> a member of Major Pockmanster 's Delhi Regiment , since resentment toward the natives was reportedly very high in that outfit . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  be identical to; be someone or something