で候そうMeanings1copulabe; ispolite (teineigo)archaicArchaic polite copula, equivalent to modern である or です. Used in historical or literary contexts, often in samurai-era speech.See also: である「拙せっ者しゃ、侍さむらいで候そう」と彼かれは言いった。"I am a samurai," he said (in archaic polite style).
