"Wast solicitous of" is a phrase that combines archaic language with the verb "wast" (contracted form of "were" used in Old English) and the adjective "solicitous." Its definition is derived by understanding the meanings of the individual words.
"Wast" originates from the Old English verb "wesan," meaning "to be." In this phrase, it serves as the indicative second person singular past tense form, indicating an action that has already occurred.
"Solicitous," on the other hand, is derived from the Latin word "sollicitus," meaning "anxious" or "concerned." It refers to displaying or expressing excessive care, attention, or concern for something or someone. When combined with "wast," the past tense form of "to be," it implies that the person being described was excessively caring or concerned about a particular matter in the past.
Thus, "wast solicitous of" suggests that someone (the second person singular pronoun "thou" in early modern English) had, at some point in the past, displayed an excessive level of care, attention, or concern for a certain issue or individual. The phrase often implies a sense of anxiety, fervor, or earnestness in one's approach when attending to the subject matter.
It is important to note that this phrasing is archaic and no longer in common usage. It is often encountered in historical texts, literature, or poetry from older periods of the English language.
