The spelling of the phrase "wert a native of" may seem unusual, but it is simply an archaic form of the sentence "you were a native of." In IPA phonetic transcription, it can be written as /wərt ə neɪtɪv əv/. The use of "wert" instead of "were" indicates a past tense meaning, while "native" refers to being born or belonging to a specific place. This phrase is commonly found in historical texts and may be confusing for modern readers who are not familiar with its usage.
"Wert a native of" is a phrase that can be understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts. First, "wert" is the archaic second person singular past tense of the verb "to be" in English. It was commonly used in Early Modern English, particularly during the time of Shakespeare, but has since fallen out of contemporary usage. "A native" refers to a person who was born in a particular place or country, usually implying that they have a strong connection to and familiarity with that location. Lastly, "of" is a preposition used to indicate belonging or origin.
Taken together, the phrase "wert a native of" indicates that the subject being discussed was born or originally from a specific location. It suggests a sense of inherent belonging, cultural understanding, and perhaps even loyalty or affiliation to that place.
For example, if someone were to say "He wert a native of London," they would be stating that the person being referred to was born and raised in London, and therefore has a deep understanding of the city, its customs, and its people. The phrase implies that being a native of a place carries a certain level of knowledge, experience, and attachment that an outsider may not possess.