The spelling of the word "wast candidate" may seem peculiar at first, but it follows the rules of Middle English spelling. In IPA phonetic transcription, "wast" is pronounced /wɑst/, with the "a" pronounced like "ah". This spelling represents the old-fashioned past tense of "to be". Similarly, "candidate" is pronounced /ˈkændɪdət/ with the emphasis on the first syllable. Overall, the spelling of "wast candidate" may look strange to modern eyes, but it actually reflects a rich linguistic history.