Pronunciation: [wɒst dɪfˈiːtɪd] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the phrase "wast defeated" is "was defeated". The word "wast" is an archaic form of "was" and is no longer used in modern English. The correct pronunciation of "was" is /wʌz/, which is represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) by the symbols /w/ and /ʌz/. On the other hand, "defeated" is pronounced as /dɪˈfiːtɪd/ in IPA, with the stress on the second syllable.
"Wast defeated" can be understood as the archaic and informal past tense of the verb "to be defeated" in the second person singular. The word "wast" is an old form of "was," which is used here to indicate the past tense of the verb "to be" that specifically applies to the second person singular pronoun ("you"). Meanwhile, "defeated" functions as the main verb that describes the state of being conquered or overcome in a battle, contest, or conflict.
When used together, "wast defeated" implies that at a particular point in the past, the person being addressed or referred to had been on the losing side, unable to achieve victory or success in some effort or confrontation. This phrase can be employed in various contexts, such as historical accounts, literature, or even creative writing that aims to create an old-fashioned or poetic tone.
It is important to note that this expression is considered outdated and rarely used in contemporary English. The standard modern equivalent would be "you were defeated." Nonetheless, understanding archaic forms like "wast defeated" can be useful when encountering older texts or engaging in period style writing, where such language may be intentionally employed to create a particular effect or atmosphere rooted in the past.
The phrase "wast defeated" appears to be a combination of two separate words: "wast" and "defeated".
1. Wast: In this context, "wast" is an archaic conjugation of the word "were", specifically used with the second person singular pronoun "thou". During Middle English (1066-1500), English verbs had various conjugations based on the subject and tense. "Wast" was the second person singular past tense of the verb "to be". Over time, this form was replaced by "were" in modern English.
2. Defeated: The word "defeated" comes from the Latin word "defectus", which means "failure" or "undoing". The term entered English through Old French, where it took the form "defeit".
