Crossword Genius

"That __ Then, This Is Now" (1971 S. E. Hinton novel) (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

was

(Other definitions for was that I've seen before include "'Is, in the past (3)'" , "(He/she) existed" , "(I/he/she/it) existed" , "(He/she/it) existed" , "Used to be" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.
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