Pronunciation: [wɜː mˈad] (IPA) 
The phrase "were mad" is spelled with a silent e at the end of "were." This is because "were" is pronounced with the schwa sound /wɜːr/. The vowel sound in the second syllable is an open /æ/ as in "cat," represented by the letter "a." This can sometimes cause confusion when spelling the phrase, as one might be tempted to write "we're" instead. However, "we're" is a contraction of "we are," which has a different meaning.
"Was mad" is a phrase used to describe a state of extreme anger or insanity. It is the past tense of the verb "to be" in combination with the adjective "mad." The word "mad" has multiple meanings, but in this context, it typically refers to a strong emotional response characterized by rage or fury.
When someone is described as "was mad," it implies that they experienced intense anger at a specific moment in the past. This phrase suggests a temporary state of being rather than a permanent characteristic. It can also suggest a loss of control over one's emotions or a deviation from rational behavior.
In everyday language, "was mad" can be used to indicate an individual's response to a particular event, situation, or person that triggered their anger. It could refer to an outburst, aggressive behavior, or a general feeling of irritability and frustration.
For example, "He was mad when he found out someone had broken into his car," implies that the person experienced intense anger upon discovering the intrusion.
It is important to note that the phrase "were mad" can also be used to describe a collective sense of anger or insanity among a group of people. In this case, it suggests that the individuals in the group shared similar emotions or were collectively affected by a particular occurrence.
Overall, "was mad" describes a state of intense anger or temporary insanity and is often used to illustrate an individual's emotional response to a specific event.
The phrase "were mad" does not have a direct etymology, as it consists of two separate words that have their own etymological origins:
1. "Were": The word "were" is the second person singular and plural past indicative and subjunctive of the verb "be" in Old English. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old English word "wæron", which ultimately evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "*wērun". In turn, "*wērun" can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁es-", meaning "to be".
2. "Mad": The word "mad" comes from the Old English word "gemaed", which meant "mad, insane, frenzied". It was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*ga-maidaz".
