The correct spelling of the phrase "wast manifest" is actually "waxen manifest," which means to become clear and obvious. The use of the word "waxen" may seem outdated, but it simply means to grow or become larger. The IPA phonetic transcription for "waxen" is /ˈwæksən/, while "manifest" is /ˈmænəfɛst/. The phrase can also be found in its more modern form as "become manifest," where the meaning remains the same.
The phrase "wast manifest" does not have a specific etymology on its own, as it is a combination of two separate words. Here is the etymology of each word:
1. "Wast": In this case, "wast" is the archaic second-person singular past tense of the verb "be" in Middle English. It is derived from the Old English word "wǣre", which was also the second-person singular past tense form of "be". The word "be" itself has roots in Old English and stems from Proto-Germanic.
2. "Manifest": The word "manifest" has a Latin origin. It is derived from the Latin word "manifestus", which means "clear, evident, or visible". The word entered the English language through Old French, where it was spelled as "manifeste".