The spelling of the phrase "wast told" may seem archaic today, but it was commonly used in Early Modern English. The word "wast" is a conjugation of the verb "to be" in the second person singular past tense, meaning "you were." Meanwhile, "told" is the simple past tense of "tell," meaning "informed or related information." Together, "wast told" means "you were informed or told." The phonetic transcription in IPA would be /wɑːst təʊld/.
"Wast told" is an archaic phrase derived from Middle English. The word "wast" is the second person singular past tense of "be" ('to be'), and "told" is the past participle of "tell" ('to communicate or narrate information'). Therefore, when combined, "wast told" refers to an action that was communicated or narrated to someone in the past.
Primarily used in old literary works or in poetic contexts, the phrase signifies that the person being addressed had previously received information or had been informed about something. It implies that the individual had been told a story, informed of an event, or given some facts or knowledge in the past. The phrase can also convey that the information relayed to the person was important or noteworthy.
In modern English, the phrase "wast told" is considered outdated and is rarely used in everyday conversations or contemporary writing. Nevertheless, it can still be encountered in historical texts, classic literature, or traditional poetry. Its usage helps to establish a sense of antiquity or to authentically evoke a bygone era.
Overall, "wast told" denotes an action of being informed or narrated to, maintaining a connection with the past and offering insights into the evolution of the English language.
The phrase "wast told" consists of two words: "wast" and "told".
"Wast" is the archaic form of the second person singular past tense of the verb "be" in Early Modern English. It derives from the Old English word "wǣre", which means "were". Over time, the verb "be" underwent changes in its forms and pronunciation, and the term "wast" eventually fell out of use in Modern English. However, it can still be found in works from the Early Modern period, including the works of William Shakespeare.
"Told" is the past participle of the verb "tell". It comes from the Old English word "tellan", which means "to recount, narrate, or relate". The origins of "tellan" can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*taljaną", meaning "to mention" or "to count".