The spelling of the word "haddest weight" may seem confusing at first glance, but it can be easily deciphered with the help of IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "had" is pronounced /hæd/ with a short /a/ sound. The second syllable "dest" is pronounced /dɛst/ with a short /e/ sound followed by a hard /st/ consonant blend. Lastly, the word "weight" is pronounced /weɪt/ with a long /eɪ/ sound and a silent /gh/ at the end. Together, these sounds create the unique spelling of "haddest weight".
The phrase "haddest weight" does not have a separate etymology as it is not a standalone word or phrase. It appears to be a combination of two words: "haddest" and "weight". Here is the etymology for each word individually:
1. Haddest: It is the past tense of the verb "have" in the second-person singular form in Early Modern English. "Haddest" essentially means "you had" or "you possessed". It originated from the Old English word "habban", which had a similar meaning.
2. Weight: This word is derived from the Old English noun "gewiht", which meant "weight" or "load". It developed from the Proto-Germanic word "gewichtiz". Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word changed, but the core meaning remained the same.