soit

Pronunciation

• IPA: /swa/^[1]
• IPA: /swat/^[1]

Forms

soit (conjunction, adverb); pronounced /swa/, but /swat/ before a vowel and as an adverb^[2][3]

Etymology

It is the third person singular of the present subjunctive of être,^[2][4][5][6] which continues inherited from Latin sit (“let it be”), the subjunctive of sum (“to be”).^[1] In older French, when it was still felt as a verb, it was put in the plural when the construction required it (“soient religieus, soient seculiers”, Joinville), and replaced by fust in a past context (Calvin).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Chrétien de Troyes's Erec et Enide (about 1170) has ou soit… ou soit to mark an alternative.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence (1174–76) has seit… u, and Wace (1170–80) the series soit… soit… soit.^[2] Soit que with the subjunctive is in Calvin (1541), and soit que… soit que in Montaigne (1580); classical French also had soit ou… ou (Amyot, 1559).^[2][4][3] As an adverb of assent with a concessive value, “so be it”, it dates from the 13th century.^[2][4]

The Académie (1835) records it for introducing a supposition, soit un triangle, notably in setting out a mathematical problem; in the 20th century it also introduces an explanation, meaning “that is to say”.^[2][4][3]

Timeline

• c. 1170 – Ou soit… ou soit, Chrétien de Troyes.^[2]
• 1170–80 – Soit… soit… soit, Wace.^[2]
• 13th century – Adverb of assent.^[2]
• 1541 – Soit que with the subjunctive, Calvin.^[2]
• 1580 – Soit que… soit que, Montaigne.^[2]
• 1835 – “Supposing, let … be”, Académie.^[2]
• 1933 – “That is to say”.^[3]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. Soit… soit: either… or: soit l'un, soit l'autre, soit que… soit que (with the subjunctive), whether… or.^[6][1]
2. That is, namely: trois mètres, soit environ dix pieds.^[3][1]
3. (mathematics) Let… be: soit un triangle ABC.^[2][1]

Adverb

1. So be it, all right (expressing assent, often reluctant): Soit ! j'accepte.^[2][6]
2. Tant soit peu: ever so little.^[6]

Related words

• être

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette