The correct spelling of the word "wert near" is actually "were not". The phonetic transcription for "were" is /wɜː(r)/ which represents the "w" sound followed by the long "e" sound and the "r" sound. The phonetic transcription for "not" is /nɒt/ which represents the "n" sound followed by the "o" sound and the "t" sound. So, if we combine these two transcriptions, we have the correct spelling of the phrase "were not" which means "were not" or "was not".
"Wert near" is an archaic phrase that combines the verb "wert," which is the past tense of "be," and the adjective "near." Both words are derived from Old English, and when used together, they indicate a state of being in close proximity or having great proximity to something.
The word "wert" comes from the Old English word "wesan" meaning "to be." It is the second person singular past tense form of "be" and is primarily found in old literature or formal writing today. The inclusion of "wert" in the phrase "wert near" emphasizes the past state of being near something.
The term "near" is an adjective that describes being close to or in close proximity to a particular person, object, or location. It signifies a short distance between two entities, suggesting intimacy, or immediacy in terms of time or place.
When combined, the phrase "wert near" indicates being in close proximity or nearness to a particular thing at a specific moment in the past. It implies that something or someone was in close proximity to another thing or person in a previous time frame. The phrase is mostly found in literary works from earlier periods and is considered outdated by contemporary standards.
The phrase "wert near" does not have a specific etymology because it is a combination of two separate words: "wert" and "near".
"Wert" is an archaic form of the verb "to be" in the second-person singular past tense. It was commonly used in Early Modern English and can still be found in older texts, particularly in works by William Shakespeare. For example, in the sentence "Thou wert near", "wert" means "you were".
On the other hand, "near" has Old English roots and comes from the word "neah". It has always meant "close" or "in proximity" in English, referring to something being not far away.
Therefore, "wert near" simply means "you were close" or "you were near".