Etymologically
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soit

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Pronunciation

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]

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