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Hadst: meaning, definitions and examples

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hadst

 

[ hædst ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

archaic usage

Hadst is a second-person singular past tense form of the verb 'have' that was commonly used in archaic or older forms of English. It is primarily seen in literary texts and is not part of modern English vernacular. The term evokes a sense of historical or poetic language, often encountered in the works of Shakespeare or the King James Bible. In contemporary usage, hadst is almost exclusively found in discussions of older texts or in specific dialects that retain archaic forms.

Synonyms

had, possessed

Examples of usage

  • Thou hadst no cause for doubt.
  • Hadst thou been there, you would know.
  • If thou hadst asked me, I would have helped.
  • Hadst we known, we would have acted differently.

Word origin

The word 'hadst' originated from the Old English form 'hæfdest', which is a combination of 'hæfde' (had) and the second-person singular suffix '-est'. This form was used to indicate possession or experience in the past specifically directed towards the subject 'thou'. As English evolved, particularly during the transition from Middle English to Modern English, many of these distinct second-person forms were gradually phased out in favor of more simplified verb conjugations. By the time of Early Modern English, 'hadst' was largely retained in poetic and formal contexts, largely due to the influence of writers such as Shakespeare and the biblical translations which helped preserve some of the older grammatical structures in literary styles. Today, 'hadst' is considered archaic and is used primarily in literary references, historical studies, or for stylistic purposes, maintaining a sense of the past in its usage.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,422, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.