Word of the Day

Thursday, January 29, 2004

soi-disant

\swah-dee-ZAHN\ , adjective;

Self-styled; so-called.

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Quotes:

The study exposes most varieties of 'human resource management' as a complete waste ofttimes promoted by soi-disant gurus and self-serving consultants with an eye for a quick buck.

-- "Support for an old-fashioned view", Independent, May 12, 1994

The troupe, soi-disant egalitarians, mostly turn out to be royal phonies.

-- Craig Offman, "Whiz Kid", Time, February 1, 1999

Origin:

Soi-disant comes from the French, from soi, "oneself" + disant, "saying," present participle of dire, "to say."