ce

probably from the Latin adverb ecce or from the adjectival use of the interrogative pronoun quis, qui homo?. but the feminine variant cette, which is likely a contraction of ecce ista, may demonstrate an interjectional origin rather than a pronominal one. in a contracted form comes from the Latin spatial adverb ecce strongly linked to the following word: ecce hommo (« this man »), or with a pronoun linked adjectivally: ecce ista vacca (« this cow »).