The spelling of the word "haddest inclination" may seem confusing at first glance, but it follows the patterns of Early Modern English grammar. The word "haddest" is the second-person singular past tense form of the verb "have" and "inclination" is a noun meaning "tendency or desire". The pronunciation of "haddest" is /ˈhadɪst/ and "inclination" is /ɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/. Despite its archaic spelling and usage, understanding Early Modern English is essential for comprehending literature and legal documents from this period.
The word "haddest inclination" consists of two parts: "haddest" and "inclination".
The word "haddest" is the second person singular past tense of the verb "have" in Middle English. It was derived from the Old English word "hæfde", which also meant "had". In Old English, verbs had different forms depending on the subject and tense of the sentence. "Haddest" specifically refers to the past tense of "have" used with the pronoun "thou" (you, singular).
The word "inclination" comes from the Latin word "inclīnātiō", which means "leaning" or "bending". It was formed from the verb "inclīnāre", meaning "to bend" or "to lean".