"wert favor of" is an archaic phrase that means "were in favor of." The spelling of "wert" is actually a truncation of "were," which was commonly used in Old and Middle English. The phonetic transcription of "wert" is /wɜːt/, with the "w" sound being pronounced as a voiced labial-velar approximant and the "ɜː" sound as a mid-central vowel. Overall, the spelling of this phrase may seem confusing to modern English speakers, but it reflects the linguistic history of the language.
"Wert favor of" is an archaic phrase derived from Early Modern English. It combines the verb "wert," which is the second person singular past tense of "be" or "were," and the noun "favor," meaning approval or support. The term "of" serves as a preposition indicating possession or association.
Therefore, "wert favor of" can be defined as an archaic expression describing someone's support, preference, or favor in the past tense. It suggests that an individual or a group of people held a positive opinion or granted approval to a particular individual, action, idea, or cause. The phrase implies that the subject or the subject's actions were seen with approval or were conferred favor by others.
The use of "wert" signifies that the phrase was employed during a time when Early Modern English was more prevalent, primarily in the 16th to 17th centuries. This phrase is rarely used in contemporary English; however, it can be encountered in historical texts, literature, or outdated language forms.
For instance, in an old Victorian novel, one might come across a sentence like: "Mary, thou wert favor of all who witnessed thy charitable acts." Here, the phrase indicates that Mary was well-regarded and found favor among those who observed her acts of charity.
Overall, "wert favor of" in old English means having been supported, approved, or preferred, indicating past favor or endorsement.