How Do You Spell WERT AFRAID?

Pronunciation: [wˈɜːt ɐfɹˈe͡ɪd] (IPA)

The correct spelling of the phrase "wert afraid" is actually "wert" with an "e" and not "were" with an "a". The word "wert" is an archaic form of the verb "to be", specifically used for the second person singular past tense. It was commonly used in Shakespearean English. The pronunciation of "wert" can be represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /wərt/, with the "e" representing a schwa sound. So, next time you come across "wert afraid" in your Shakespearean reading, remember the correct spelling and pronunciation.

WERT AFRAID Meaning and Definition

1. "Wert afraid" is an archaic phrase derived from Middle English and used in Shakespearean English, particularly during the Elizabethan era. It combines the subject pronoun "wert" (the second-person singular past tense of "to be," often used with "thou") with the adjective "afraid."

   The phrase "wert afraid" is an alternative way of saying "were afraid" or "was afraid," wherein "afraid" refers to experiencing fear or being apprehensive about someone or something. In this context, "afraid" describes a state of mind characterized by feelings of unease, anxiety, or dread.

   The usage of "wert afraid" demonstrates the historic evolution of the English language. In today's modern English, "wert" has been replaced by the pronoun "were," and "afraid" continues to signify the same underlying emotions. The phrase is often found in literary works, plays, poetry, or historical texts set in the medieval or Renaissance periods, where the language of the time is accurately portrayed.

   For example, in Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," the character Lady Macbeth addresses her husband by saying, "What beast was't then / That made you break this enterprise to me? / When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man." Here, "wert afraid" indicates that Macbeth was fearful or hesitant to carry out a certain deed.

Common Misspellings for WERT AFRAID

• werd afraid
• qert afraid
• sert afraid
• eert afraid
• 3ert afraid
• 2ert afraid
• wwrt afraid
• wsrt afraid
• wdrt afraid
• wrrt afraid
• w4rt afraid
• w3rt afraid
• weet afraid
• wedt afraid
• weft afraid
• wett afraid
• we5t afraid
• we4t afraid
• werf afraid
• wery afraid

Etymology of WERT AFRAID

The phrase "wert afraid" is not a single word; rather, it is a combination of two words: "wert" and "afraid".

"Wert" is the archaic second-person singular past tense of the verb "to be" in Middle English. In contemporary English, "wert" has been replaced by "were" in most situations.

"Afraid" originated from the Middle English word "aferd", which meant "terrified" or "frightened". It was derived from the Old English word "afeared", meaning the same.

The former Old English term "afeared" can be further split into the prefix "a-" meaning "on" or "in", and the adjective "féred" meaning "danger" or "experience".

Over time, "aferd" transformed into "afrayed" in Middle English before eventually becoming "afraid" as we know it today.