Reconstruction:Latin/ecce ille

This Latin entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Latin

Alternative forms

• *eccum ille

Etymology

From eccillum, an expression meaning 'there he is', changed into a regular determiner. Alternately a separate formation from ecce + ille.

Determiner

*ecce ille m (feminine *ecce illa, neuter *ecce illum) (Proto-Gallo-Romance)

1. that

Reconstruction notes

Subsequently, /-e/ > /-i/, which had metaphonic effects in Old French (> cil). That this change followed the common Proto-Gallo-Roman period, if one can be assumed, is suggested by comparison with the Catalan and Occitan outcomes of *eccum ille, where the stressed vowel underwent no such raising.

See also

• *ecce iste

Descendants

• Franco-Provençal: celi, cela, celos, celes, celor
• Old French: cil (masculine singular and plural nominative case, variants in Picard Old French: chil or chiu), cel (Picard: chel), ceus (Picard: chiaus, Eastern Old French: ciaus), celes (Picard: chele), celui (Picard: chelui)
  • Middle French: cel, celle, ceulx, celles, celuy
    • French: celle, ceux, celui, celei (dialectal, Burgundy), celeur (dialectal, archaic)
  • Lorrain: ceil, ceille, ceils, ceilles, çaux, celles, cî
  • Norman: chût (partially), chelle, cheux, chelles
  • Picard: chu, chèle (Ponthieu Picard: chole), chieux (Pas-de-Calais: chiaux), chèles (Ponthieu Picard: choles)