The word "wast ready for" is spelled as it would have been in Early Modern English. "Wast" is the second person singular past tense of "be" in this context, and "ready" and "for" are spelled the same as they are today. In IPA phonetic transcription, "wast" would be /wɑːst/, "ready" would be /ˈrɛdi/, and "for" would be /fɔːr/. While this spelling may seem archaic or difficult to read, it provides insight into the language of Shakespeare's time.
The phrase "wast ready for" is an archaic construction and is formed by combining the verb "wast," which is the second-person singular past tense of "be" in Old English, with the adjective "ready for." In contemporary language, the term would be more commonly expressed as "were ready for."
"Wast ready for" refers to a state of being prepared or equipped for a certain event, situation, or task. It indicates that someone or something was in a state of readiness or had made necessary arrangements or provisions to face a particular challenge or engagement.
The term implies that the individual or entity being referenced had taken necessary measures beforehand to be fully prepared and capable of effectively handling a specific occurrence or circumstance. This readiness could involve mental, physical, or logistical preparedness, depending on the context in which it is used.
The phrase can be employed to describe a range of situations, such as being "wast ready for battle" or "wast ready for departure." It signifies that the subject had done all that was required to be ready and had adequately planned and organized themselves to ensure they could seamlessly undertake the intended action or activity.
In contemporary usage, this archaic phrase is rarely encountered since it is now more customary to employ updated verb forms such as "were ready for" or "was ready for" in modern English.