The spelling of the phrase "hadst shot at" is influenced by its historical usage in Early Modern English, which employed the second person singular past tense form "hadst" as a variant of "had." The phonetic transcription of "hadst shot at" is /hædst ʃɒt æt/, where "æ" is pronounced like "a" in "cat," "ʃ" represents the "sh" sound, and "ɒ" is like "o" in "got." This phrase implies that someone had taken a shot at something in the past.
The phrase "hadst shot at" is archaic and can be understood by breaking it down into its component parts. "Hadst" is the second person singular past tense form of the verb "have," used in Early Modern English, especially in poetry or older literary works. "Shot" is the past participle form of the verb "shoot," referring to the act of discharging a weapon, typically a firearm, with the intention of hitting a target. "At" signifies the target or direction toward which the action is directed.
Therefore, "hadst shot at" can be defined as an expression denoting a past event in which the subject, in the second person singular, had discharged a weapon, presumably aiming at a target. The phrase is commonly encountered in literature, especially older works, where it indicates a completed action in which the subject has taken a shot. It suggests a sense of finality to the action and refers to a moment in the past rather than an ongoing or present occurrence.
Overall, "hadst shot at" refers to the act of aiming and firing a weapon, such as a firearm, and reflects the completion of that action in the past, usually used in a poetic or historic context.