Pronunciation: [hˈadst ɐ pɹˈɛfɹəns fɔː] (IPA) 
The phrase "hadst a preference for" is spelled with the archaic second person singular past tense form of "have," which is "hadst." It is pronounced /hædst/ with the first syllable "ha" as in "hat" and the "d" and "st" blend together at the end. "Preference" is pronounced /ˈprɛfərəns/ with the stress on the second syllable "fer" and "e" as in "pet." It means to have a liking or fondness for something.
"Hadst a preference for" is an archaic construction of English language that combines the verb "hadst," a conjugation of "have" in the second person singular past tense, with the noun "preference," and the preposition "for." This phrase implies that someone possessed a particular inclination or liking towards something or someone.
The term "hadst" is an old form of the verb "have" that is no longer used in modern English. It denotes an action or state of possession in the past tense, specifically referring to the second person singular pronoun "you." "Preference," on the other hand, refers to a subjective choice or inclination that is expressed by an individual, indicating that they favor or are drawn to one thing over another.
When combined with the preposition "for," it indicates the object or subject towards which the preference is directed. "For" denotes the intended recipient or target of the preference. Therefore, "hadst a preference for" denotes an individual's past inclination or liking for a specific choice, option, object, or person. It suggests that the person had a particular emotional or intellectual leaning, and their inclinations or desires were biased in favor of the chosen option over others.
Overall, "hadst a preference for" is an outdated form of expressing an individual's past inclination or liking toward something or someone, demonstrating their subjective choice or favoritism towards a particular option or person in the past.
