"Hadst a looksee" is a colloquial and archaic phrase, typically seen in older literature or in casual speech. It combines two verbs, "hadst" and "looksee," to convey the action of taking a quick glance or examining something briefly.
The first component, "hadst," is derived from the archaic second person singular form of the verb 'to have' in the past tense. In this context, it implies possession or taking ownership of the action or object being observed. It suggests that the speaker once had the opportunity or ability to conduct the examination.
The second component, "looksee," is a compound word consisting of 'look' and 'see,' creating an intensified version of the act of looking. It emphasizes a rapid, informal and cursory examination or scanning of the subject in focus, often suggesting a casual or nonchalant approach to the process. The phrase implies an action taken with a degree of curiosity, interest, or inspection to gather preliminary information or make a quick assessment.
Overall, "hadst a looksee" implies a former possession of an opportunity to take a quick, superficial look or examination of something, often implying an ad hoc or informal manner of observation. This phrase creates a vivid image of briefly inspecting the subject at hand with a certain degree of curiosity, interest, or nonchalance.
