Dût-il (en. Even if it had)

/dy til/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

The expression dût-il is used to express a necessity or obligation in the past conditional.

Dût-il the desire, he would have acted differently.

Dût-il le vouloir, il aurait agi différemment.

Used in a formal register to indicate a hypothetical condition.

Dût-il be present, things would have been simpler.

Dût-il être présent, les choses auraient été plus simples.

Dût-il is formed from the verb devoir in the past perfect tense, with the interrogative form.

dût-il the desire

If he had wanted it.

dût-il le vouloir

if he were to arrive

If it were to happen.

s'il dût arriver

in the case where he should

In the hypothesis where it would be necessary.

dans le cas où dût-il

devoir

Verb meaning to have the obligation to do something.

devoir

obligation

Necessity or constraint to do something.

obligation

hypothetical

Based on a hypothesis, an assumption.

hypothétique

Refers to an obligation that has not been fulfilled.

He may say that he acted as dût-il, but in reality, he did not.

Il peut dire qu'il a agi comme dût-il, mais en réalité, il ne l'a pas fait.

Used to describe a situation where someone justifies themselves regarding an obligation.

He defends himself by invoking 'dût-il' to avoid responsibility.

Il se défend en invoquant 'dût-il' pour éviter la responsabilité.