soit French · revision 16669

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1170, Chrétien de Troyes, Erec et Enide (ou soit… ou soit)|origins=la sum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /swa/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /swat/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''soit''' (conjunction, adverb); pronounced /swa/, but /swat/ before a vowel and as an adverb^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the third person singular of the present subjunctive of [[être]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) which continues [[inh|la|sum|alt=sit|t=let it be]], the subjunctive of [[m|la|sum|t=to be]].^(Wiktionary) 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 [[m|frm|fust]] in a past context (Calvin).^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Chrétien de Troyes's ''Erec et Enide'' (about 1170) has ''ou soit… ou soit'' to mark an alternative.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence (1174–76) has ''seit… u'', and Wace (1170–80) the series ''soit… soit… soit''.^(TLFi) ''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).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) As an adverb of assent with a concessive value, “so be it”, it dates from the 13th century.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ 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”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1170 – ''Ou soit… ou soit'', Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1170–80 – ''Soit… soit… soit'', Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 13th century – Adverb of assent.^(TLFi)

+ * 1541 – ''Soit que'' with the subjunctive, Calvin.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – ''Soit que… soit que'', Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1835 – “Supposing, let … be”, Académie.^(TLFi)

+ * 1933 – “That is to say”.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # ''Soit… soit'': [[m|en|either]]… or: ''soit l'un, soit l'autre'', ''soit que… soit que'' (with the subjunctive), whether… or.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # That is, namely: ''trois mètres, soit environ dix pieds''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' Let… be: ''soit un triangle ABC''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # So be it, all right (expressing assent, often reluctant): ''Soit ! j'accepte''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Tant soit peu'': ever so little.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[être]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}