The spelling of the phrase "hadst someone sized up" can be confusing for many English learners. Here's the breakdown of the pronunciation: - "Hadst" is pronounced as "hædst" (/hædst/), with the "st" sound at the end indicating it's the second person singular past tense of "have." - "Someone" is pronounced as "sʌmwʌn" (/sʌm.wʌn/), with the stress on the first syllable. - "Sized up" is pronounced as "saɪzd ʌp" (/saɪzd ʌp/), with the stress on the first syllable of "sized." Together, the phrase means "you had already assessed someone."
The phrase "hadst someone sized up" is a colloquial and archaic expression derived from a combination of Old English and modern English. To fully comprehend its meaning, it is necessary to break down the term:
"Hadst" is the second person singular past tense of the verb "have" in Old English. It is equivalent to the modern English word "had," indicating possession or ownership.
"Someone" refers to an unspecified individual.
"Sized up" is a compound verb phrase in modern English. "Size up" means to evaluate or assess someone or something, often to form an opinion or judgement.
When combining these elements, "hadst someone sized up" suggests that the subject possessed or held an already formed opinion or assessment of another person. It implies that the person had thoroughly observed and analyzed the individual, typically taking into consideration their appearance, behavior, or other relevant characteristics.
This phrase often conveys a sense of confidence or certainty in the assessment made, suggesting that the subject had a clear understanding or opinion of the person in question. It might imply that the subject had an accurate perception of the individual's qualities, intentions, or capabilities.