"Wert pleased by" is a phrase derived from archaic English usage. In middle English, "wert" is the second person singular form of the verb "to be," the past tense of "wert" being "were." "Pleased" is the past participle of the verb "please," which means to make someone happy or satisfied. The preposition "by" here is used to indicate the agent or cause of the pleasure.
Therefore, "wert pleased by" expresses the idea of being happy, satisfied, or content due to the actions, words, or presence of another person or thing. The subject of the phrase is the person or entity experiencing the pleasure, and the object is the source or reason for that pleasure.
This expression is often used in a passive or subjunctive construction, such as "thou wert pleased by," which emphasizes the state of being pleased. It conveys a sense of someone's enjoyment, delight, or contentment resulting from a specific event, circumstance, or action. The phrase indicates that the subject found something or someone to be pleasing, resulting in a positive emotional response.
In modern English, this phrase has largely fallen out of usage, and the more common phrase "was pleased by" is employed. However, "wert pleased by" can still be encountered in literary or poetic contexts to evoke a sense of old-fashioned or formal speech patterns.
