Verb

1. Second-person singular simple present form of have.

   Thou hast lovely eyes!

   Thou hast gone from me.

Usage notes

• Hast is the original second-person singular present tense of to have and is now largely archaic, having been superseded by have. It is still however found in poetry and older works, being used both as a main verb and an auxiliary verb, and is occasionally still heard in certain regional dialects, especially in the north of England. It is perhaps most familiar to modern ears through its extensive use in the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 and the Authorised Version of the Bible, and in other liturgical texts derived from, or influenced by, them. It corresponds to the familiar second-person singular present tense of to have in some other European languages.