The correct spelling of the phrase "doest offhand" would be "does offhand". This is because "doest" is an archaic form of the present tense second person singular verb "do", which is no longer used in modern English. The correct verb form is "does", which is pronounced as /dʌz/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The word "offhand" is spelled as it is pronounced, with the vowel sound /ɒf/ and the consonant sounds /hænd/. Together, the phrase is pronounced as /dʌz ɒf.hænd/.
The phrase "doest offhand" is a combination of two separate words: "doest" and "offhand".
- "Doest" is the archaic second-person singular form of the verb "do" used in Early Modern English (16th-17th century). It is derived from the Old English word "dōst" which means "do". This word was part of the conjugation system of Old English verbs.
- "Offhand" is an adjective that originated in the 17th century. It comes from the combination of "off" (meaning away or apart) and "hand". It originally referred to something done or said without preparation, thought, or formalities, implying spontaneity or casualness.
When combined, "doest offhand" essentially means doing something without preparation or hesitation.