The phrase "wast smitten" is an archaic form of "were struck" in modern English. The spelling reflects the pronunciation at the time when the phrase was commonly used. "Wast" is the second person singular past tense form of "be" and is pronounced /wɑːst/. "Smitten" is the past participle of "smite," which means "to strike" and is pronounced /ˈsmɪt(ə)n/. These old spellings reflect the shifting pronunciations of English over time and are a reminder of the language's evolution.
"Wast smitten" is an archaic phrase that combines the past tense of the auxiliary verb "wast" (from Middle English for "were") and the past participle "smitten" (from Old English for "struck" or "inflicted with a strong emotion"). Together, it represents a state of being deeply affected or emotionally overwhelmed.
The term "wast smitten" can be understood in two main ways. First, it can describe an intense physical impact or injury. In this context, it suggests being struck, hit, or wounded by a powerful force or object. For instance, one might say, "He wast smitten by a falling tree branch," indicating that he was injured or struck by a branch.
The second interpretation of "wast smitten" pertains to an emotional or psychological state. It implies being deeply affected or enchanted by someone or something, indicating a profound attraction or attachment. For instance, someone might say, "She wast smitten by his charm," conveying that she was strongly taken with his charismatic qualities.
Overall, "wast smitten" denotes the experience of being impacted, struck, or emotionally overwhelmed either physically or emotionally. While this phrase is antiquated and rarely used in modern language, it adds a poetic or even mystical quality when employed in writing or literature.
The phrase "wast smitten" can be broken down into two parts: "wast" and "smitten".
The word "wast" is a contraction of "thou wast", which means "you were" in archaic English. "Wast" is derived from the Old English word "wǣre" or "wære", which also meant "were".
The word "smitten" is the past participle of the verb "smite". "Smite" comes from the Old English word "smitan", which means "to strike" or "to hit". In this context, "smitten" means "struck" or "affected by something".
Therefore, when combined, "wast smitten" refers to the state of being or feeling struck or affected by something in the past (specifically, in archaic or older English usage).