The spelling of the phrase "haddest all to oneself" follows Middle English conventions. The word "haddest" is the second person singular past tense of "have" and is pronounced /ˈhædɪst/. "All" is pronounced /ɔːl/ and means "completely" or "entirely." "To oneself" means to have something exclusively for oneself and is pronounced /tuː wʌnˈsɛlf/. In modern English, this phrase would be written as "had everything to oneself." Understanding the phonetic transcription helps us to grasp the unique spelling and pronunciation of Middle English.
There is no direct dictionary definition of the phrase "haddest all to oneself," as it is an archaic construction using obsolete verb forms. However, based on the individual words and their historical usage, we can derive a meaning:
"Haddest" is the second person singular past tense of the verb "to have," which indicates possession or ownership. "All" refers to the entirety or everything of something. "To oneself" suggests exclusivity or the absence of others, highlighting the absence of any sharing or companionship.
Therefore, when combined, "haddest all to oneself" would imply being in sole possession or control of everything, without sharing or any interference from others. It paints a picture of having absolute authority, dominion, or ownership with no need to compromise or accommodate others.
This phrase is written in an older form of English, known as Middle English, and would have been commonly used during the medieval period but has since fallen out of usage. While understanding the meaning requires contextual inference and knowledge of archaic language, it conveys the concept of complete and unchallenged control or ownership over everything.