The spelling of the word "wast keeping" may seem confusing to some due to the use of the archaic form of "was" and the lack of a space between "wast" and "keeping". The phonetic transcription of this word is /wɑːst ˈkiːpɪŋ/. The first syllable is pronounced like "waste" with a long "a" sound, and the second syllable is pronounced like "keeping" with a short "i" sound. This phrase is commonly found in old literature and refers to "continuing to remain" or "preserving".
The phrase "wast keeping" does not have a specific etymology as it is not a standalone word. However, if you are asking about the words "wast" and "keeping" separately, here is their etymology:
1. Wast: "Wast" is an archaic form of the word "was". It is the second and third-person singular past tense of "be". The Old English form of "wast" was "wære/wæs", which evolved into Middle English "were/was" and then Modern English "was". Its etymology is traced back to Proto-Germanic "was/wēs".
2. Keeping: "Keeping" comes from the Old English word "cēpan" which means "to take heed of, care for, guard, preserve".