The spelling of "wast indignant" may seem confusing, but it is simply an archaic form of the phrase "was indignant." The pronunciation is [wɑst ɪnˈdɪgnənt], with the "a" in "wast" pronounced like the "o" in "hot." In modern English, we would say "was" instead of "wast," which was commonly used in Middle English. "Indignant" is pronounced [ɪnˈdɪɡnənt], with the stress on the second syllable. Overall, "wast indignant" means "was angry or displeased."
The phrase "wast indignant" is not an individual word but a combination of two words: "wast" and "indignant". Let's break down the etymology of each of these words:
1. "Wast":
The word "wast" is an archaic form of the second-person singular past tense of the verb "be". In modern English, the correct form would be "were". So, "wast indignant" essentially means "were indignant". In Old English, the word "wast" originated from the Germanic word "wesan".
2. "Indignant":
The word "indignant" comes from the Latin word "indignari", which means "to deem unworthy". Over time, it evolved into "indignus", meaning "unworthy" or "unworthy of" in Latin.