How Do You Spell WAST SURE?

Pronunciation: [wɒst ʃˈʊ͡ə] (IPA)

The spelling of "wast sure" is a past tense verb phrase that means "were certain." In IPA phonetic transcription, "wast" is pronounced as /wɑst/ with the "a" sounding like the "aw" in "raw" and the "s" being silent. "Sure" is pronounced as /ʃʊr/ with the "u" sounding like the "oo" in "book" and the "r" being pronounced. The spelling reflects the Early Modern English language, which was used by William Shakespeare in his plays and sonnets.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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WAST SURE Meaning and Definition

  1. "Wast sure" is an archaic phrase rooted in Old English that can be primarily understood as an expression of certainty or assurance. It is derived from the word "wast," which is the second person singular past tense of the verb "be," and "sure," meaning confident or certain.

    In Elizabethan English, "wast sure" was commonly used to convey certainty in statements or affirmations. It was often employed in literary works, such as Shakespearean plays and poetry. The phrase carries a sense of conviction and trust, indicating absolute confidence in the truth or validity of a statement.

    For example, a sentence employing "wast sure" could be: "Thou wast sure the sun would rise again," meaning "You were certain that the sun would rise again." This phrase implies that the person being addressed had unwavering belief in the reappearance of the sun, without any doubt or hesitation.

    "Wast sure" is now considered outdated and obsolete in contemporary English usage, as it belongs to the Early Modern English period. However, it still holds historical significance and can be encountered in old texts.

Common Misspellings for WAST SURE

  • wase sure
  • qast sure
  • aast sure
  • sast sure
  • east sure
  • 3ast sure
  • 2ast sure
  • wzst sure
  • wsst sure
  • wwst sure
  • wqst sure
  • waat sure
  • wazt sure
  • waxt sure
  • wadt sure
  • waet sure
  • wawt sure
  • wasr sure
  • wasf sure
  • wasg sure

Etymology of WAST SURE

The phrase "wast sure" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two separate words: "wast" and "sure". Here is the etymology of each word:

1. Wast: "Wast" is the archaic second-person singular past tense of the verb "be" in English. It is derived from the Old English word "wǣre" (also spelled "wǣreþ" or "wasþ") which means "was". The Old English word ultimately comes from the West Germanic word "wēs", which has the same meaning. Over time, "wast" evolved into "were" in modern English.

2. Sure: "Sure" is derived from the Old French word "seür" which means "safe" or "secure". It entered English through Middle English as "sure" with the same meaning.