The spelling of "didst better" is unusual compared to modern English, as it is an archaic form of "you did better." In IPA phonetic transcription, "didst" is pronounced as /dɪdst/, with a short "i" sound followed by the "d" and "st" sound. "Better" is pronounced as /ˈbɛtər/, with the stress on the first syllable and a schwa sound in the second syllable. While this spelling may seem confusing to some, it is important to understand and appreciate the evolution of language throughout history.
"Didst better" is an archaic phrase derived from Middle English, specifically from the use of the word "didst," which is the second person singular past tense form of the verb "do" in conjunction with the adjective "better." In modern English, the phrase translates to "made improvements" or "achieved a higher level of success or excellence."
The term "didst better" suggests an action or effort undertaken by someone that surpasses or outperforms a previous attempt or another individual's efforts. It signifies an enhancement or advancement in the quality, efficiency, or effectiveness of something. The phrase "didst better" signifies an improvement in one's personal performance or the outcome of a particular endeavor.
The usage of "didst better" invokes a sense of comparison between past and present accomplishments. It conveys the idea that the person in question has surpassed their previous achievements or has done better than others in a specific context. The phrase may be employed to highlight growth, progress, or development over time.
Today, the phrase "didst better" is considered outdated, as it belongs to an earlier stage of the English language. It is predominantly found in literature or texts from the Middle English period, from approximately the 11th to the 15th century. This archaic phrasing is seldom used in modern, everyday language, with the more common contemporary alternatives being "improved upon" or "outperformed."
The word "didst" is a contraction of "did" and the second person singular pronoun "thou", which was commonly used in Early Modern English. "Didst" is the past tense form of "do" used specifically for the second person singular.
The word "better" is derived from the Old English word "betera", which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic root *batizô. It has undergone various changes throughout the history of the English language.
As for the etymology of the phrase "didst better", it is simply a combination of "didst" and "better". The phrase implies that the subject, referred to with "thou" and "didst", has improved or surpassed a previous action or accomplishment.