Pronunciation: [wɜːɹ ɪndˈɪɡnənt] (IPA) 
The spelling of the phrase "were indignant" may be confusing to some due to the pronunciation of "indignant." The IPA phonetic transcription for "indignant" is /ɪnˈdɪɡnənt/, which shows that the "g" is silent, and the stress is on the second syllable. "Were," on the other hand, is spelled phonetically as /wɜːr/, with the stress on the first syllable. So, despite the discrepancy, "were indignant" means "we were angry."
"Were indignant" is a phrase used to describe a state of anger or intense displeasure in response to a perceived injustice, disrespect, or offense. It refers to individuals or a group of people who are feeling strong indignation or righteous outrage.
Indignation is an emotional response characterized by feelings of anger, resentment, and moral outrage. When someone says they "were indignant," it suggests that at a particular moment or incident, they experienced this emotion to a significant extent. It is a temporary state of intense displeasure, often expressed through facial expressions, body language, or verbal outbursts.
The term "were" implies that the feeling of indignation was prevalent in the past. It suggests that the individuals or group of people experienced this strong emotion during a specific moment or event in the past, which stirred their anger and resentment.
People who were indignant usually feel a sense of moral righteousness and the conviction that they have been treated unfairly or that a wrong has been committed against them or someone they identify with. The intensity of their indignation may vary depending on the severity of the perceived injustice or offense.
Overall, "were indignant" refers to a past state of righteous anger or outrage, where individuals or a group of people felt strongly displeased due to a perceived unfairness or disrespect.
The word "were indignant" does not have a separate etymology on its own since it is a phrase comprising two words. However, we can break them down to understand their individual origins:
1. Were: "Were" is the past tense of the verb "to be" in the second person singular and plural. The word "be" itself has Old English roots and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *wesan, meaning "to exist" or "to be present". Over time, it evolved into various forms in different languages, including Old High German "wesan" and Old Norse "vera".
2. Indignant: The word "indignant" comes from the Latin verb "indignari", which means "to deem unworthy" or "to be displeased".
