The spelling of the word "wast wet" might seem unusual to those unfamiliar with Middle English. The word "wast" derives from the Old English word "wāst" meaning "waste," while "wet" has remained relatively unchanged in its spelling over time. In IPA phonetic transcription, "wast" would be pronounced /wɑst/ and "wet" as /wɛt/. This spelling of "wast wet" is an example of the linguistic evolution that has taken place in the English language over the centuries.