1. Self-styled. 2. So-called. 3. Pretended, would-be. Usually, all three of these are implied. Nearly always used despairingly.
From the French soi meaning 'oneself' and disant meaning 'saying'. Pronounced swa-dee-ZA (put some nasal into that last 'ZA' if you want to do it right). The last 'N' may be pronounced or not, as you like (swa-dee-ZAN).
Soi`-di`sant" (?), a. [F.]
Calling himself; self-styled; pretended; would-be.
© Webster 1913
Soi`-di*sant" (?), a. [F.; soi one's self + disant, p. pr. of dire to say.]
Self- named; self-styled.
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