The spelling of "wast angry" may seem strange to modern English speakers, but it follows the rules of Early Modern English (16th-17th century). The pronunciation of "wast" is [wɑst], which is the second person singular past tense of "be" ("were" is used for plural and "was" for singular), while "angry" is pronounced [æŋɡri]. In this phrase, "wast" modifies "angry" to mean "you were angry" in Old English. While the spelling may appear anachronistic, it reflects the development of the English language over time.
"Wast angry" is an antiquated term derived from early English language usage and can be broken down into two parts: "wast" and "angry."
The term "wast" is the archaic second person singular form of the verb "be" in the past tense. It is used to refer to the action of being or existing in a specific state or condition. In this context, it indicates a past occurrence or action of "being."
The word "angry" refers to a strong feeling of displeasure, often accompanied by annoyance, resentment, or indignation. It is a state of emotional agitation caused by an external stimulus or by a perceived injustice, disrespect, or offense.
Therefore, "wast angry" essentially means "you were angry." It describes a situation in which the person being referred to experienced a strong negative emotional state in the past.
This outdated phrase might be encountered in old texts or ancient literature, such as Shakespearean plays or religious texts. It is important to note that this term is no longer commonly used in modern English, as the verb 'be' now uses the indicative form "were" for the second person singular pronoun.
The phrase "wast angry" consists of two parts: "wast" and "angry".
1. "Wast": The word "wast" is the second person singular past tense form of the verb "to be" in Middle English. It was derived from the Old English "wǣre". Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of "wǣre" changed to become "wast". In Modern English, the second person singular past tense form of "to be" is "were", as in "you were angry" or "thou wast angry" (thou being the archaic second-person singular pronoun). So, "wast" is an archaic form of "were".
2. "Angry": The word "angry" comes from the Old Norse word "angr", which means "troubled, grieved, vexed".