The spelling of the phrase "wast unwilling" may appear archaic and confusing to modern English speakers. However, it is important to note that this phrase was commonly used in Middle English. In IPA phonetic transcription, "wast" is pronounced as /wɑːst/ and means "were." "Unwilling" is pronounced as /ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ/ and means "not wanting to do something." When translated, "wast unwilling" means "you were unwilling." It is interesting to see how language evolves over time, but it is important to understand and appreciate its historical roots.
The phrase "wast unwilling" is a combination of two words: "wast" and "unwilling". Here is the etymology of each word:
1. "Wast": "Wast" is the second person singular past tense of the Old English verb "beon/wesan", which means "to be". In Old English, the second person singular past tense was often formed with the addition of "t" to the base form of the verb. Over time, it evolved into "wast" and was used in Middle English. Eventually, this form fell out of use, and in Modern English, "wast" became obsolete. However, its conjugation still remains in some relics of Early Modern English literature and poetry.