SHOULDST Meaning and
Definition
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The term "shouldst" is an archaic second-person singular form of the verb "should," predominantly used in Middle English and Early Modern English. It bears a close resemblance to the verb "should" in contemporary English and primarily conveys a conditional obligation or duty.
In its simplest meaning, "shouldst" implies a moral or practical necessity, indicating what a person ought to do or the correct course of action to follow. It denotes a sense of obligation, indicating what is expected, advisable, or appropriate in a given situation. The term emphasizes a subjective judgment about what is right or best, typically concerning a moral, ethical, or societal standard.
While "should" is still used in present-day English, the form "shouldst" has become outdated and is no longer in common usage. Its contemporary equivalent is "should" conjugated with "you" (e.g., "you should"). However, "shouldst" occasionally appears in poetry, period dramas, or historical literature as an artistic device to evoke an archaic or antiquated tone.
As an archaic word, "shouldst" may also carry poetic or lyrical connotations, lending a sense of elegance, formality, or antiquity to the language. Its rare usage in modern discourse typically occurs in literary or theatrical settings where the intention is to evoke a specific historical period or emulate a certain style of speech.
Etymology of SHOULDST
The word "shouldst" is a variant form of "should" used in older forms of English, particularly Middle English and Early Modern English.
The etymology of "should" traces back to the Old English word "sceolde" (past tense of "sceal"), which meant "ought to", "must", or "have to". The "st" ending in "shouldst" is a second-person singular present tense form, which was commonly used in Middle English to indicate the subjunctive mood or as a polite form of address.
Over time, "shouldst" became less common in modern English, and the standard usage shifted to "should" as the present tense form for all persons. However, "shouldst" can still be occasionally found in poetic or archaic contexts today.
Conjugate verb Shouldst
CONDITIONAL
I
would shouldst
you
would shouldst
he/she/it
would shouldst
we
would shouldst
they
would shouldst
CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
I
would be shouldsting
you
would be shouldsting
he/she/it
would be shouldsting
we
would be shouldsting
they
would be shouldsting
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have shouldst
you
would have shouldst
he/she/it
would have shouldst
we
would have shouldst
they
would have shouldst
CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
would have been shouldsting
you
would have been shouldsting
he/she/it
would have been shouldsting
we
would have been shouldsting
they
would have been shouldsting
FUTURE
I
will shouldst
you
will shouldst
he/she/it
will shouldst
we
will shouldst
they
will shouldst
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be shouldsting
you
will be shouldsting
he/she/it
will be shouldsting
we
will be shouldsting
they
will be shouldsting
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have shouldsted
you
will have shouldsted
he/she/it
will have shouldsted
we
will have shouldsted
they
will have shouldsted
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been shouldsting
you
will have been shouldsting
he/she/it
will have been shouldsting
we
will have been shouldsting
they
will have been shouldsting
IMPERATIVE
you
shouldst
we
let´s shouldst
to shouldst
PAST
I
shouldsted
you
shouldsted
he/she/it
shouldsted
we
shouldsted
they
shouldsted
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was shouldsting
you
were shouldsting
he/she/it
was shouldsting
we
were shouldsting
they
were shouldsting
PAST PARTICIPLE
shouldsted
PAST PERFECT
I
had shouldsted
you
had shouldsted
he/she/it
had shouldsted
we
had shouldsted
they
had shouldsted
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been shouldsting
you
had been shouldsting
he/she/it
had been shouldsting
we
had been shouldsting
they
had been shouldsting
PRESENT
I
shouldst
you
shouldst
he/she/it
shouldsts
we
shouldst
they
shouldst
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am shouldsting
you
are shouldsting
he/she/it
is shouldsting
we
are shouldsting
they
are shouldsting
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
shouldsting
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have shouldsted
you
have shouldsted
he/she/it
has shouldsted
we
have shouldsted
they
have shouldsted
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been shouldsting
you
have been shouldsting
he/she/it
has been shouldsting
we
have been shouldsting
they
have been shouldsting
