a. [F., f. soi oneself + disant, pres. pple. of dire to say.]
1. Of persons: Calling oneself; self-styled, would-be. (Usually with implication of pretence or deception.)
1752. Chesterf., Lett., ccxcii. (1792), II. 339. The pious Æneas, who, like many soi disant pious people, does the most flagrant injustice and violence.
1794. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), I. vii. 220. The people … seem to interest themselves very little in the fate of their soi-disant friends.
1818. Art Preserv. Feet, Pref. p. x. The difference between the … skilful practitioner, and the soi-disant corn doctor.
1874. Ld. Lennox, Recoll., I. 273. My soi-disant constituent administered a pretty strong dose of soft-sawder.
1884. F. P. Verney, in Contemp. Rev., Oct., 545. Is there any society in the world out of the United States, where such a piece of snobbism could be represented as possible in a soi-disant gentleman?
2. Of things: Said or claimed to be such, without really being so; pretended.
1845. J. W. Croker, Ess. Fr. Rev., I. (1857), 4. Circumstances which appear to have influenced his soi-disant historical labours.
1860. Ruskin, Unto this Last, i. § 1. The modern soi-disant science of political economy.
1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xxii. A soi-disant ‘resignation’ that draws honeyed lips to the throne of grace.
