The spelling of the word "haddest company" is based on Old English grammar. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /ˈhædəst ˈkʌmpəni/. "Haddest" is the second person singular past tense form of the verb "have" and "company" is a noun. Together, "haddest company" means "you had company" or "you kept company with someone." While the use of this phrase is now outdated in modern English, it offers a glimpse into the history of the language and its evolution over time.
The phrase "haddest company" is a combination of two different words with separate origins.
1. Haddest: The word "haddest" is the second-person singular form of the verb "to have" in the past tense in Early Modern English. It is derived from the Old English word "habban", which also meant "to have" or "to possess". The word "haddest" specifically refers to the act of possessing or owning something in the past.
2. Company: The word "company" originates from the Old French word "compaignie", which was derived from the Late Latin word "companio". In Latin, "com" means "with" or "together", and "panis" means "bread". Thus, "companio" literally meant "one who eats bread with another".