The spelling of the phrase "wast indecisive" may seem odd to some, but it can be easily explained through IPA phonetic transcription. "Wast" is an archaic form of "was," pronounced /wəz/. Similarly, "indecisive" is pronounced /ɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/, with stress on the second syllable. The combination of these two words creates a phrase pronounced as /wəz ɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/, meaning that the subject was uncertain or unsure of themselves in the past. History lovers and language enthusiasts alike can appreciate the quirks of archaic English spellings.