The spelling of the phrase "wast in cahoots with" may seem puzzling, as it contains an archaic verb form and an informal noun. The verb "wast" is a second person singular past tense of "be," which is rarely used in modern English except for poetic or literary purposes. "Cahoots" is a slang term for close collaboration or partnership, derived from the French word "cahute" meaning hut or cabin. The IPA phonetic transcription for "wast in cahoots with" is /wɑst ɪn kəˈhuːts wɪθ/.
The phrase "wast in cahoots with" combines two different expressions: "wast" and "in cahoots with." "Wast" is an archaic form of the verb "was," used in early Modern English. It refers to the past tense of the verb "to be" in the second person singular. Thus, "wast" indicates something that you (singular) were in the past. On the other hand, "in cahoots with" is a colloquial phrase used to describe collaboration or close association with someone, often in a secretive or conspiratorial manner. Together, "wast in cahoots with" implies that the subject, traditionally addressed with the pronoun "thou," was previously involved in a clandestine partnership or close cooperation with another person.
In contemporary language, however, this phrase is rarely used due to its archaic nature and the limited usage of "wast." It would be more common to say "were in cahoots with," as "were" is the appropriate past tense form of the verb "to be" in the second person singular. This usage would then convey the same idea of a past collaboration or alliance with someone else, typically undertaken with a sense of secrecy or conspiracy. Overall, "wast in cahoots with" is a combination of archaic language and colloquial expression, illustrating a former secretive partnership or conspiracy involving the addressee.