WERT OF Meaning and
Definition
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"Wert of" is an archaic and poetic form of the verb "be" used in the second person singular past tense, primarily in older English literature. It is derived from Middle English, where "wert" was the second person singular form of "be" and "of" was a preposition indicating possession or origin.
The term "wert of" is typically used in romantic or dramatic contexts, often to express hypothetical or conditional situations. It is commonly encountered in classical literature or poetry, especially works from Shakespearean times. The rendition "wert of" can be interpreted as "were you" or "were thou," conveying a sense of respectful address or addressing a singular person.
For instance, in Shakespeare's sonnet 18, he writes, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate." If rewritten in the older style, it would be "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou wert of more loveliness and temperateness." In this context, "wert of" emphasizes the subject's characteristics or qualities.
In summary, "wert of" is an archaic form of the verb "be" used in old English literature and poetry. It is employed to address a singular person in the second person singular past tense, often to express hypothetical or conditional conditions.
Common Misspellings for WERT OF
- qert of
- sert of
- eert of
- 3ert of
- 2ert of
- wwrt of
- wsrt of
- wdrt of
- wrrt of
- w4rt of
- w3rt of
- weet of
- wedt of
- weft of
- wett of
- we5t of
- we4t of
- werf of
- wer6 of
Etymology of WERT OF
The phrase wert of is an archaic form in English. Wert is the second person singular past tense of the verb to be in Early Modern English, meaning were. It is derived from the Old English word waere or waeron, which also meant were.
The word of in this phrase is a preposition that comes from the Old English word of, meaning from or off. It has its roots in the Proto-Germanic language.
Overall, the etymology of the phrase wert of can be traced back to Old English and Proto-Germanic roots, representing the second person singular past tense of the verb to be combined with the preposition of.
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