voit
Extremely rare / ObsoleteArchaic / Dialectal
Definition
Meaning
A rare or dialectal past tense and past participle form of the verb 'vie', meaning to compete or contend.
An archaic or non-standard form used historically or regionally to indicate that someone has competed or striven for superiority.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This form is not used in contemporary standard English. It is found only in historical texts or specific regional dialects. Users should employ 'vied' instead.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference as the form is obsolete. Historical usage may appear in texts from either region.
Connotations
Historical, rustic, non-standard.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in modern corpora for both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJ + voit + with/against + OBJ (for + GOAL)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistic analysis.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The two knights long voit for the king's favour.
- They voit with each other in every game.
American English
- The settlers voit against the elements to survive.
- He and his brother voit for their father's attention.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Voit' is an old word. We say 'vied' now.
- In the 18th-century manuscript, the author wrote 'they voit', whereas a modern writer would use 'vied'.
- The dialectal form 'voit', a past tense of 'vie', surfaces occasionally in regional archives, illustrating morphological variation now lost to standardization.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Voit' rhymes with 'coit' (obsolete) – both are words you don't need to quote. Remember the standard past tense is 'vied'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS A STRUGGLE (archaic expression of this metaphor).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with any Russian word. It is not 'войт' (village elder). It is an English verb form.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'voit' in modern writing. Mistaking it for a present tense verb.
Practice
Quiz
What is the status of the word 'voit' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a documented historical and dialectal variant of 'vied', but it is not correct in modern standard English.
No. You should always use the standard form 'vied' as the past tense of 'vie'.
Only in very old texts, specific dialect dictionaries, or linguistic studies on verb conjugation.
No. It functions solely as an obsolete verb form related to 'vie'. It is not related to the surname Voit or any product brand.