The spelling "wast for" may seem unusual to those not familiar with Middle English. This phrase was commonly used during the Middle English period and is spelled as such due to the changes in pronunciation and spelling over time. In IPA phonetic transcription, "wast for" would be pronounced as /wɑːst fɔːr/. Understanding the evolution of language is important in deciphering the spelling patterns of words that may seem peculiar to modern readers.
The phrase "wast for" does not have a specific etymology since it appears to be a grammatical construction rather than a standalone word. However, it can be broken down into two separate words: "wast" and "for".
1. Wast: In Middle English, "wast" was the second-person singular form of the verb "be" in the past tense. It meant "were" or "was" and was used when addressing a single person. The word "wast" can be traced back to Old English "wǣre" meaning "were" or "was".
2. For: The word "for" has various origins and uses in English. It derives ultimately from the Old English "for", which had a wide range of meanings including "on account of", "because of", "in order to", or "in exchange for".