The spelling of the phrase "were sickening" may seem confusing to some, but it is actually quite straightforward when broken down phonetically. "Were" is pronounced as /wɜːr/, with the "e" making an "uh" sound and the "r" being slightly emphasized. "Sickening" is pronounced as /sɪkənɪŋ/, with the "i" making an "ih" sound, the "k" being slightly emphasized, and the "-ing" ending pronounced as "in". Together, the phrase is pronounced as /wɜːr sɪkənɪŋ/.
"Were sickening" is a verb phrase that refers to an action or event that caused feelings of disgust, revulsion, or uneasiness. This phrase is made up of the verb "were" (the past tense of the verb "to be") and the adjective "sickening."
When something is described as "sickening," it implies that it is so offensive, repulsive, or appalling that it elicits a strong negative emotional response. It suggests that the action or event is deeply disturbing or unpleasant to a degree that it creates a physical or emotional discomfort in those who witness or experience it.
The use of the past tense form "were sickening" indicates that the action or event being referred to already occurred in the past. It suggests that the negative impact of the action or event persisted over a certain period or is still affecting the person who perceives it.
This phrase can be applied to a wide range of situations, including witnessing a violent act, hearing about an unethical behavior, or experiencing a shocking revelation. It emphasizes the strong emotional reaction or feeling of repulsion that arises when confronted with something deeply disturbing or morally reprehensible.
In summary, "were sickening" describes an action or event that causes intense disgust or revulsion and implies that it is so disturbing or offensive that it generates strong negative emotions in those who encounter it.
The phrase "were sickening" is not a word itself, but rather a combination of words: "were" and "sickening".
The word "were" is the past tense of the verb "to be" and comes from Old English "wǣron", which means "they were".
The word "sickening" is the present participle form of the verb "sicken". It originated from the Middle English word "siken", which means "to become ill or nauseated". It has its roots in the Old English word "sīcan", meaning "to sigh or groan".
So, the etymology of the phrase "were sickening" is a combination of the Old English verb "to be" in its past tense and the Middle English present participle form of "sicken", indicating a state of becoming ill or nauseated in the past.