Pronunciation: [wɒz fˈɔː] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "was for" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). "Was" is pronounced as /wʌz/ with the "a" pronounced as the "uh" sound and the "s" sounding like a "z". "For" is pronounced as /fɔːr/ with the "o" making the "aw" sound and the "r" pronounced in a way that sounds like a soft "uh" sound. Together, "was for" is pronounced as /wʌz fɔːr/ with stress on the second syllable of "for".
"Was for" is a verb phrase that consists of the past tense of the verb "to be" (was) and the preposition "for." It is commonly used as an idiomatic expression with multiple meanings and usages.
1. Support or Approval: In one context, "was for" can imply being in favor of something or supporting a particular action, decision, or idea. It suggests agreement or endorsement. For example, "She was for the new policy on environmental protection" means that she supported or approved of the new policy.
2. Intention or Purpose: "Was for" can also signify an intended or desired purpose. It highlights the objective or goal behind an action or choice. For instance, "The meeting was for discussing the upcoming project" implies that the main purpose or intention of the meeting was to discuss the project.
3. Excuse or Justification: Another usage of "was for" involves providing an excuse or justification for one's behavior or actions. It suggests a reason behind a particular action. For example, "I ate the cake because it was for celebrating my birthday" indicates that the individual consumed the cake as a means of celebrating their birthday.
Overall, "was for" serves as an expression that covers varying nuances, ranging from indicating support or approval, to representing intention or purpose, and even providing an excuse or justification for an action.
The phrase "was for" does not have a specific etymology on its own, as it is a combination of the verb "was" (past tense of the verb "to be") and the preposition "for". However, we can look at the origin of each component individually:
1. "Was": The word "was" is derived from the Old English form "wæs", which evolved from the Proto-Germanic "was". This word ultimately has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European base "*es-/s-", meaning "to be" or "to exist". It has cognates in other Indo-European languages, such as Old Saxon "was", Ancient Greek "esti", and Sanskrit "asati".
2. "For": The preposition "for" comes from Old English "for", which has cognates in other Germanic languages.
