The phrase "wert short of" is a somewhat archaic expression meaning "were not enough". It is pronounced with the IPA transcription /wɜːt ʃɔːt ɒv/ where the "w" sound is followed by an "eh" sound, the "r" sound is pronounced with a rounded mouth, and the "t" sound is sharp. The word "short" is pronounced with the IPA transcription /ʃɔːt/ which sounds like "sh-aw-t" and the word "of" is pronounced with the IPA transcription /ɒv/ which sounds like "ah-v".
The phrase "wert short of" is an archaic or poetic form of the verb "were + short of," used in the second-person singular past tense. It combines the past tense of the irregular verb "to be" (were) with the phrase "short of," which means to lack or be deficient in something. In this context, "wert" serves as the contraction of "were" and "short of" indicates a state of not having enough of something.
"Wert short of" implies a situation in which the subject, usually the person being addressed, was lacking or had insufficient amounts of a particular item, attribute, or quality. The word "wert" is derived from Old English and is largely replaced by the contracted form "were" in modern usage. The expression can often be found in literature and poetry written in older English styles.
For example, a sentence utilizing "wert short of" could be: "Thou wert short of patience and understanding during the conversation," meaning that the individual lacked or was deficient in patience and understanding in that particular discussion. In essence, "wert short of" expresses a state of insufficiency or a deficiency in someone or something.