The word "hadst the qualities of" is an archaic form of "had the qualities of". The spelling of "hadst" reflects its pronunciation as /hædst/, with the "d" and "s" sounds merging into a single consonant cluster at the end of the word. This spelling convention can be seen in other archaic verbs as well, such as "shalt" and "wilt". While these forms are no longer commonly used in modern English, they can still be encountered in literary works from past eras.
The phrase "hadst the qualities of" is a combination of the verb "hadst" and the noun "qualities of." The term "hadst" is an archaic second-person singular form of the verb "have" in the past tense, which was commonly used in Early Modern English. It specifically refers to the action of possessing or owning something in the past.
The noun "qualities of" refers to the inherent characteristics, traits, attributes, or features of someone or something. It implies a set of distinctive elements that define the nature or essence of a person, object, or concept.
When used together, "hadst the qualities of" signifies that an individual or entity possessed or exhibited specific attributes or traits that were part of their personal or professional makeup in the past. It suggests that these qualities were evident, observable, or associated with the subject.
For instance, if we say "he hadst the qualities of a great leader," it means that in the past, he possessed or displayed the characteristics typical of an exceptional leader, such as strong decision-making skills, charisma, or the ability to inspire others.
Overall, "hadst the qualities of" is an antiquated syntactical construction that serves to establish a connection between past possession or ownership and the attributes or attributes associated with an individual or entity.