Pronunciation: [wˈɜːt ʌphˈɛld] (IPA) 
"Wert upheld" is a phrase that may look confusing to some due to its archaic spelling, but it simply means "were upheld". The pronunciation of "wert" is /wərt/ with a short "u" sound, and the "e" is silent. The word "upheld" is pronounced /ʌpˈhɛld/ with stress on the first syllable and a short "u" sound. This phrase is commonly used in legal documentation to indicate that a decision or ruling was maintained.
The phrase "wert upheld" is not a standalone word, but rather a combination of words that can be analyzed separately:
1. "Wert" is an archaic second-person singular past tense and subjunctive mood of the verb "to be" in Middle English. It comes from Old English "wǣre", which means "were" in Modern English.
2. "Upheld" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "to uphold", which means to support, maintain, or sustain. "Uphold" originated from the combination of the prefix "up-" and the verb "hold". The term originated from Old English "uphealdan", where "up" means "above" or "in support of", and "healdan" means "to hold".
So, when combined, "wert upheld" can be interpreted as a past subjunctive construction of "you were upheld".
