The correct spelling of the word "wert plausible" is actually "were plausible." The pronunciation of "were" is /wər/ in IPA phonetic transcription, and it means "was" or "were" in the past tense of the verb "be." "Plausible" is pronounced /ˈplɔːzəbəl/ in IPA phonetic transcription, and it means "credible" or "believable." So, the phrase "were plausible" means that something was believable or likely true in the past tense.
"Wert plausible" is an archaic phrase that combines the past tense of the verb "to be" (wert) with the adjective "plausible." This phrase was commonly used in early modern English, particularly during the Elizabethan period.
"Wert" is the second-person singular past tense of the verb "to be." It is derived from the Old English word "wǣre," which means "were." In this context, "wert" functions as a form of "were," indicating a hypothetical or unreal condition.
"Plausible," on the other hand, is an adjective that describes something that appears believable or persuasive. It is derived from the Latin word "plausibilis," meaning "deserving applause" or "approved." A plausible statement or argument is one that has a reasonable appearance of truth or validity, even if it may not be entirely accurate or factual.
Combining these words, "wert plausible" can be understood as a phrase used to express a hypothetical or unreal condition that appears to be believable or reasonable. It suggests that, although the situation being described may not be true or accurate, it has an air of credibility or persuasiveness. The phrase may have been used to imply a degree of skepticism or doubt about the veracity of the information being presented while acknowledging its apparent plausibility.
The phrase "wert plausible" does not have a clear etymology, as it is composed of two separate words.
The word "wert" is an archaic form of the second person singular past tense of the verb "to be" in Old English. It was commonly used with the pronoun "thou" (e.g., thou wert), which was the informal and singular form of "you" in that era. Over time, "wert" fell out of use and was replaced by "were" in modern English.
On the other hand, "plausible" comes from the Latin word "plausibilis", which means "worthy of applause" or "acceptable". The Latin root "plaudere" means "to applaud" or "to strike hands together in approval". In English, "plausible" refers to something that appears reasonable or credible.