noun · neuter
cē
cē n or f (indeclinable)
Classical[ˈkeː]Ecclesiastical[ˈt͡ʃɛː]
Meaning
- indeclinableThe name of the letter C.
-cĕ, an inseparable strengthening demonstrative particle, answering etymol. to the Gr. γέ (Sanscr. ki; cf. Lat. ci-s and citra), and in signif. to the demonstr. ι (in οὑτοσί, τουτί, etc.), appended to words in different forms.
I. Unchanged ce: hicce, haecce, hocce; also in MSS. and inscriptions one c: hice, etc.; plur.: hice, haece, haecce; gen. hujusce, etc.—
II. Changed,
A. Into ci before the interrog. particle ne: hiccine, hoccine, siccine, nunccine, etc. (v. hic, sic, nunc, etc.).—
B. By a rejection of e, in hic, haec, hoc, nunc, etc. for hice, haece, hoce, nunce, etc.; illic, istic, nunc, sic (for illice, etc.); cf. Zumpt, Gram. § 132; Corss. Ausspr II. p. 235.
Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
-ce or -c
(not -cce, -cc), an enclitic particle, with demonstrative force (like colloq. Engl. here, there, with this or that) appended to many pronom. words.—Form -ce: hice (old for hic), huiusce; see hic.—Form -c; see hic, haec, illic, istic, nunc, sic, etc.—Form -ci-, where the enclitic -ne follows; see hicine, sicine.
Origins
Derived from Etruscan. Etruscan names of stops were the stop followed by /eː/.