The phrase "wast surety for" may seem archaic, but it can still be found in old literature and documents. It means "were a surety for" or "stood as a guarantee for." The spelling may be confusing, but it follows the traditional pronunciation of Middle English. "Wast" is pronounced as "wahst," with the "a" sounding like the "a" in "father," while "surety" is pronounced as "shur-ih-tee," with the emphasis on the second syllable. The word "for" is simply pronounced as "for."
"Wast surety for" is a phrase that can be broken down into two distinct components: "wast" and "surety for."
Firstly, "wast" is the archaic past tense of the verb "to be" and is typically used in Old English or Shakespearean language. It refers to the act of existing or happening in the past.
Secondly, "surety for" refers to the concept of assuming responsibility or guaranteeing the fulfillment of a certain obligation or promise on behalf of someone else. It implies a commitment to act as a guarantor or provide a form of assurance that a particular event or outcome will come to pass.
Therefore, when combined, the phrase "wast surety for" can be understood as a historical or poetic way to express that someone or something in the past had taken on the role of providing assurance or being a guarantor for a specific situation or person. It suggests that they had willingly or unknowingly assumed responsibility and vouched for the truthfulness or success of a certain claim, event, or individual.
Overall, the phrase "wast surety for" captures an old-fashioned or artistic manner of expressing the act of being a guarantor or providing a form of assurance in the past. Please note that this usage is rarely encountered in modern language and can be primarily found in literary or historical texts.